Manure !!

Please excuse me as I'm very new to this Gardening lark only ever having a south coast postage stamp!! This year my French neighbour turned the soil over for me and I have covered it in manure , MOH who like me knows zilch said to cover it to keep the weeds at bay and just roll the cover back as I plant, it's not black plastic. Am I doing the right thing?? or have I missed the boat on the manure front

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner. Anything which stops the light getting to the soil will stop weeds germinating, so the likes of cardboard or old carpet will do the job as well as black plastic. Clear plastic will not be of much use tho. Not quite sure what you mean by "I have missed the boat on the manure front"?