[Yana]

Ive been reading an article that suggests that it is best to layer manure on a raised bed and cover with Mypex over winter instead of black plastic. It suggests that this will give a better result, but I thought the whole idea of the black plastic is to eradicate the weeds altogether and to stop the winter rain leaching all the goodness from the soil?
I'm also concerned that I am thinking of the winter already 

[savbo]

I cover beds (and manure if it's on them) with a woven Mypex-type fabric. My feeling is that it lets the soil breathe better then plastic, keeps most/heaviest rain off and still excludes enough light to stop/check weeds.

[Kirpi]

Overwintering green manure for me.

[compostqueen]

Don;t bother with black plastic. It brings nothing to the plot.  The soil underneath is bone dry if you use black plastic. The woven, heavy duty sheet mulch is the product 

[Yana]

I've never tried the green manure approach. I guess I can't get my head around sowing grass type stuff when I spend ages pulling grass out of the plot.   

[Kirpi]

I must admit, I've never sown grass type manures as they need to be dug under and I don't dig my beds.

I sow things like overwintering legumes, alfalfa and buckwheat and hoe them off when they are ready.

[Erfurt]

Anyone using black plastic or carpets should be put in stocks (dont give me that warming the soil stuff)

Manure must be properly rotted and either dug or raked in a few weeks before planting unless its spuds and you have to get victorian.

When overwintering beds just allow whatever to grow and turn soil over in Feb or if you are doing the whole no digging thing just hoe the tops off and compost them. Remember the passage of water helps develop soil structure