Black plastic is often used to keep back the weeds, as well as warm the soil, which would be good depending on the peppers your growing, chili's especially. You should be able to purchase black plastic, Im not sure of the use of white, besides just keeping the weeds back, at any of your local big box stores.

I'm in Central Texas and I think we'd get the soil TOO hot at some point. Perhaps we could start with black and white wash it as it got hotter...?

I wouldn;t use white plastic mulch for spring-planted peppers. It will actually cool the soil since it's reflective. Black plastic is best for warming the soil (which peppers want) and keeping out weeds. as long as you poke a hole just large enough for the plants, you'll save alot of time on weeding and watering. There's alot of research being done on different colors of plastic mulches on production of different veggies. Some even appear to help with discouraging insect pests.

Brad, that's interesting. Maybe if you waited for the soil to warm up some, then white mulch would be better. Some commercial growers do this in the south. Curious to hear others' responses.

Use the black, then cover it with other mulch as the year gets hotter??

my thoughts too...just use the black....and muclch...you don't even have to buy expensive mulh...have the students start saving grass clippings and leaves...