Covering soil with black plastic - (timing?)

 
Hi all,
I'm fairly new to vegetable gardening, having started one year ago.
Now that the growing season is over, I'm thinking of trying the
technique of covering the plot with black plastic sheeting, in order
to kill off all plants and weeds, prior to next Spring's planting.

What is the best time of year to do this, and how long does the
plastic need to be left in place? If you have tried this method, have
you found the black plastic to be reusable in successive years?

One timetable I had thought of is to plant the beds with winter field
beans, right now, to enrich the soil. Then, early next Spring, when
the field beans have grown, cover the whole lot with black plastic for
a suitable time, to kill everything (field beans and weeds) then
remove the plastic and plant my vegetables in the weed-free soil. Does
this sound like a good plan?

Thank you,

JD

 

To a point but I'd be tempted to dig or rotovate rthe field beans into the
soil before covering it.

--
Chris.
Mater tua criceta fuit, et pater tuo redoluit bacarum sambucus.

 On Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:02:15 +0100, "Cerumen"


Thanks for the reply. Yes, you might have a point... I was hoping to
try no-dig gardening next year - as I'm curious to see how it well
works.

JD

 

I've never tried it but seen some good reports from people who have, not
sure if it's any good over many years though.

--
Chris.
Mater tua criceta fuit, et pater tuo redoluit bacarum sambucus.

 Cerumen wrote:

Likewise...........I always thought that was 'green composting'? :)
--
Pete C
London UK