Growing on Black plastic?

[PaulF]

Over the years I have utilized several plastics and landscape fabrics for temperature, water and weed control. Plastics, several different colors, all made watering difficult except if a drip system was placed under the plastic cover. Landscape fabric did a nice job during the growing season but was difficult to remove and depending on the thickness of the fabric did not last more than a season or two.

After trialing different covers and mulches I have decided on and have used newspaper/straw mulch and ground cover for several years. Good temperature control during summer heat. I plant few crops in the early spring so no need to warm the soil where black plastic would work well. Excellent weed control and water/rain gets to the soil easily. At the end of the season paper and straw tills into the soil for breakdown into organic material. And it is cheap.