From: "Melanie Eckhart" 
  Newsgroups: rec.gardens.edible
  Subject: Re: black plastic pro & cons 
  Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 14:06:45 -0500

  <irdubeau@cancom.net> wrote

  > It has been sugested to put a black plastic down, punch holes and 
  > transplant the tomatoes. No weeds, keeps moisture, and holds heat. 
  > So much for the 'pro  ... now what about the 'cons  ?

  I used black plastic for the past two years and it was very
  successful.  At one of my Master Gardener trainings, we were
  presented with this idea along with other colors of plastic.
  Commercial horticulture growers actually use the clear
  plastic.  The problem with this is that it's easier for
  weeds to grow.  Clear plastic gives 4 times the yield as no
  plastic -- and that's more money for them.  

  There is also some promotion of using a clear red plastic over 
  the black.  The black plastic is supposed to double yields.  It 
  also helps with some of the diseases because the soil and water 
  aren't splashed up on plants during rain.  But a good covering of
  mulch will help this.  I had no weeding to do and that was
  great.

  We used the 3 foot wide cheap plastic from Walmart and dug a
  trench on each side, put the edge down in the trench and
  piled dirt over the edge.  Then we randomly placed some old
  bricks on the sides and at the ends.  Planted using a bulb
  planter.  Poke it through the plastic and the dirt, pull it
  out, drop in the plant, and fill in with dirt.  The tomato
  cages just poked right through.  By having the whole edge
  under the dirt, it didn't blow off.  I used this under the
  tomatoes, cucumbers, and green peppers.  I had less blight
  problems than I had in the earlier years, too.  Picked it up
  and threw it out at the end of the year.  Garden cleanup was
  a breeze.

  Hope this information helps,

  Melanie from Iowa
  Zone 4b