[SpudtheBinx]

Hi, on my second plot that I got this year there are a few areas that are thick with cooch and dandelion. I have been laying thick black plastic over the areas that are worst affected and was planning on doing some more over the next few weeks and digging over areas as I get time. I already have some clear areas ready for planting and other areas already planted up, but I wondered if I could dig some holes in the cooch choked areas and plant courgettes and pumpkins to supress the weeds and cooch. I have 5 of each plants and I know that many will over produce for my needs, but figured an organic cover is better than plastic if you see what I mean.

[kentishlad]

Hi, on my second plot that I got this year there are a few areas that are thick with cooch and dandelion. I have been laying thick black plastic over the areas that are worst affected and was planning on doing some more over the next few weeks and digging over areas as I get time. I already have some clear areas ready for planting and other areas already planted up, but I wondered if I could dig some holes in the cooch choked areas and plant courgettes and pumpkins to supress the weeds and cooch. I have 5 of each plants and I know that many will over produce for my needs, but figured an organic cover is better than plastic if you see what I mean.

Hi, they are quite hungry plants that really benefit from planting in a 'pocket' of manure / compost / soil mix. Dare say they'll survive though if you give them enough light to get going. I'd of thought spuds would be a better bet, creating a dense canopy of foliage, but you've got nothing to lose

[compostqueen]

you do get dense cover with pumpkins if you plant enough of em    You could plant them through the membrane if you don't want to plant too many. Bung plenty of muck round them

[Oscar Too]

They won't really keep couch and dandelion down, and they won't benefit from being stuck in weed-infested soil of unknown fertility.  Give any spare plant away to generate goodwill among your fellow gardeners, and carry on with the black plastic.

[woodburner]

I'm with Oscar Too.
Cardboard is more organic than plastic, or fabric. Newspaper is good too, but needs plenty of manure or compost on top to stop it blowing around. Watering it before you put the manure on helps too.