I took a plot on at christmas and when I started digging it over in Feb I found I have clay soil and a serious bindweed/coochgrass infestation. I don't think there could be a worse combination than bindweed and clay soil AND digging in February, the bindweed broke up very easily making it hard for me to get it out with such heavy soil.

I dug two beds in February that are now growing onions, shallots, garlic, carrots, parsnips and assorted catch crops in one bed and potatoes and jerusalem artichokes in the other. Both beds do have a few bindweed shoots popping up but I find that now the ground is dug I can usually get a hand fork into the offending area and root out any bindweed as it appears.

So as far as bindweed is concerned I'd say dig out as much as you can and get planting, so far it hasn't caused me any great problems other than a few garlics getting tangled up because the bindweed root is exactly where the garlic is planted.

Good luck to you and don't give up!!