Covering with black plastic at this time of year

[Elfeda]

A big patch in the middle of my 2nd allotment seems free of couch grass and has other weeds, so covered it with plastic (is it allright?)

for this area I am thinking of Not to dig, clear the weeds and plant directly ( tomato, aubergines and greens ) and Mulch with soil conditioner compost (ordered from council)

Should I allow rainwater go through while supressing weeds in summer before I put any plants?

[Bigmallly]

Covering with plastic is fine, it should keep the weeds at bay. Are you wanting to reuse the plastic as you could use that as your mulch & plant through it.

[Elfeda]

BM, I only wondering which one is good for mulching. black plastic or weed membrane that allows rain water to go through.

second qry is, is it good to cover clay soil a while during summer (moisture wise) before the plants can go in.

as this place looks cultivated recently, not really sure I should turn it over though I like to blend some compost. mulching with compost top during summer will do any good rather blending to simplify ?

[Bigmallly]

The way I see it is that a mulch is any material/s that reduce the amount of light getting to the weeds, it does not have to have any nutritional value. So in theory, you could put your compost/manure etc on the soil, cover with plastic & plant through it. I'm toying around with planting through wallpaper as I have some spare.

[WendyC]

I'm toying around with planting through wallpaper as I have some spare.

Will you pattern match?

[Bigmallly]

Will you pattern match?

Cheeky whippersnapper......................

[Scarlet]

It would have to match - it would drive me nuts if it didn't

[Bigmallly]

It would have to match - it would drive me nuts if it didn't

Pattern down, planted through then covered with Horse muck...................

[WendyC]

Pattern down, planted through then covered with Horse muck...................

Where's your sense of adventure?

[Bigmallly]

Adventure?..............If anyone saw me doing it they'd send round the guys in white coats.............