[mike86]

Hey everyone, is clear polythene still good to use for warming beds up? got a shed load free from work so would like to use it for something, 

[Hamani]

Yup. It allows sunlight in, acts as a mini 'greenhouse' and keeps rain out.

Should work fine!

- Gary.

[BabbyAnn]

probably not as effective as say black (which absorbs the sunlight) but I imagine it would still have some "greenhouse" effect compared to none at all.

Why not use the clear polythene to make say cold frames?  Sometimes I used lengths of clear polythene stapled to posts to create effective micro-environments round beds.

[Yorkie]

I'm not convinced it will do a great deal.  Black warms up more effectively, and clear will also let the light through (thus encouraging the weeds underneath what shelter it does provide).

[DD.]

Polythene sheet. Warmth. Mmmmmm - slugs.

[mumofstig]

I use it before I sow my early peas, it does warm the soil

Agreed - it does make the weed seeds germinate but they're easily hoed off just before I sow and I leave it over the peas until they show - cos it stops the birds pulling them up before they germinate  

[sunshineband]

Polythene sheet. Warmth. Mmmmmm - slugs.

You are soooo right!!

I put slug bait under the black polythene over my beds and it does the job a treat, reducing also those little back ones that like to live just underground

Any weeds that germinate are easily hoed off and any perennial weeds still around are easily spotted by their ghostly pale growth and dug out.

If you have plenty of clear plastic Mike, then go for it. Just weight it down well or it will fly away 

[mike86]

Excellent, thanks for all your comments/advice. I think ill give it a go and just hoe off any weeds that may appear.

[savbo]

a word of caution - if it isn't UV stabilised the polythene can become brittle to the point of being crumbly...I had a sheet like that and it broke into 1000s of tiny pieces...which mostly blew away but I am still picking bits out of the soil and will be for years...

sav

[Oscar the dog]

My poly tunnel got smased up tis week with snow on top of it and then high wind. was thinking of using the cover as a ground cover over potatoes etc  think any good?