How long to leave

[uptheowls]

Hey Guys

How long shall I leave the black polythene covering my plot before i can dig it, just grass, moss and bramble roots i think underneath
Aslo call me stupid if you want, but how can I tell if it is safe to plant edible things in there when I dont know whats been there before. I know I wont get anything in there this year, or can I.

Cheers

Chris

[uptheowls]

[Oldmanofthewoods]

I assume that you are trying to get rid of the weeds?

1. Dig and weed as much as you can and when the ground is a bit drier, cover it.  The water in the soil will sustain the weeds even though they can photosynthesise (Christ, that was a struggle!)  Whenever you take the polythene off in daylight seeds will germinate and start growing.  The weeds will continue to grow under the plastic but they will be weak and pale.  Dig and weed, cover.

2.  Dig a strip 4' x (whatever). Plant what you can and stay on top of the weeding, cover everywhere else until next year.  If you have time, do the same thing with another bed.

Works for me but they may be others with better advice.

Dig for Victory!

Jack

[SMP1704]

Hi Chris

How long has the black plastic been down?  If you want to kill everything dead, then it needs to stay in place for at least a year.  If the intention is just to weaken the weeds and kill off the annuals then a few months - lift the sheet and peek under and if they look pale and weak then its time to dig :D

With regard to safety - do you have any specific reasons for concern?  There are a couple of people here who are experts on this subject - JennyM & Melbourne12 where are you??  I would think that turning the soil, removing as many roots as you can see - as a general rule if weeds are growing there then veg will grow and as I understand there is only miniscule or nil residue

Growing this year - depends where you are.  I'm in West London and have just sown more carrots, beetroot and beans.  I know that others are doing spuds in buckets and you might get alway with sowing autumn/winter cauli and late calabrese.  Lettuce and spinach will do well in a shady spot.

Hope that helps

[emmy1978]

Hello and welcome.  ;D As for soil safety, i guess as SMP says if weeds are growing your veg will be fine. You will be improving the soil over the seasons anyway with manure, leaf mould, compost etc so it will get better.
You can grow loads of salad bits as they are v quick growing and then I would cheat and see if you can find veggie plug plants anywhere and bung them in.
The weeds should come up fine if they've been covered even for a few weeks but as before, if you want them dead, dead, dead, then a year. If you just want to grow a bit of stuff this year I would be tempted to just dig a bed for that while you keep the rest covered.
Don't forget you can get your winter stuff in soon, can't advise as still researching myself but searching for threads with titles like 'winter crops' on here brings up v useful info.
8)

[uptheowls]

cheers peeps every little helps me at the moment

[manicscousers]

Hiya, uptheowls, have you got any rotted compost, clear a space, build a mound, cover over with your black plastic, plant a courgette plant through it, you can still buy some from garden centres, also, you can still plant beans and peas , well, we have..hope you get lots of veggies  ;D