[FRUITFULL]

I thought i read on here to cover the veg patch up when not growing in it!
We have put compost on there and covered with plastic as i thought it stops the nutrients washing away and the worms come up and do their bit.

Now im thinking i read it attracts slugs and the soil wont break down.
What is best to do on or off?

[Bethslosttheplot]

I too will be interested to know the answer to this before I go and spend £60 on plastic  

[DD.]

I could be totally wrong in this, but something way at the back of my mind is saying something about nitrogen absorption from the atmosphere, which won't happen with covered soil.

Don't quote me on this one!

[FRUITFULL]

Not quoting you DD
Maybe you cover it early spring to help the soil to warm but leave it uncovered in winter.
I might be getting muddled with covering compost heaps!So much info and great tips  here i cant remember them all.

[upert]

i'm gonna bare it until springish then cover and plant through it as much as i can and see what happens.

[FRUITFULL]

So your going bear upert hope you dont get a chill.
Is it personel preference maybe?iv got my soil all tucked up for winter but am willing to strip it if thats best.

[DD.]

To be honest, I bare it all the time!

[Yabba]

Starting to look like a nudist beach in here :|

Personally I'm gonna do the same as every year and leave it under several inches of water

¥

[FRUITFULL]

We seem to be swinging to bare!
I done such a good job covering it then putting pots and bricks down to stop it blowing away.I actually thought it looked so profesional too.Little disapointed here      

[woodburner]

This is another one of those how long is a piece of string type questions.
Everyone has their own way of doing things and different things work for different people and in different situations.
There are pros and cons to different coverings as well as leaving ground bare. :|

My lottie and garden plots still have a lot of weed seed so for me covering with cardboard or w/e the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I am however trying green manure (field beans) on the lottie as I suspect that this has the advantages of both and the disadvantages of neither.

[Bombers]

I am however trying green manure (field beans) on the lottie as I suspect that this has the advantages of both and the disadvantages of neither.

Same here but with grazing Rye. I've got 4 beds of Rye, one covered with council compo, and 3with nowt, and hopefully I will learn somat... :roll:  :oops:  

[FRUITFULL]

As im covered i will leave it that way till spring and maybe next year not bother.