don't weed yer peas

[Two_Sheds]

I have grown two lots of peas: same variety, planted at the same time.

1) staked, weeded and fussed

2) left to their own devices


guess which ones did best?
I think the weedy ones have been protected from sparrows and the heat. They also grew taller, albeit horizontally as they scrambled over nearby plants for support.

[FionaH]

A lot to be said for benign neglect. I think it works on kids too

[OllieMartin]

Of course you'd get more slug and snail damage on the ones that were left to their own devices if they straggled across the ground.

[marigold007]

A lot to be said for benign neglect. I think it works on kids too

My parents must have had the same plan. It sure does make for some creative problem solving skillz.

[Snadger]

I grew the best onions I've ever grown buried in a sea of chckweed!

[Two_Sheds]

Of course you'd get more slug and snail damage on the ones that were left to their own devices if they straggled across the ground.

You'd think so, but no.
Actually, they weren't straggling along the ground, they grew up and over the surrounding flowers and weeds (weeds grow faster than peas)

[Sue]

Hi
Thinking hardy geraniums were a low growing plant I put them at the front of one of my flower beds, they grew and grew and are now a mass of flowers around 3 feet high. They were crowding out the lillies but they did eventually grow through the mass of geraniums and hey - not one lily beetle, a wonderful display of unchewed lillies. So either a coincidence or like Two Sheds, surrounding vegetation has protected them.
And ps never having managed to master metric, am constantly being surprised by eventual size of plants....
Sue

[SarzWix]

My onions have always done best unweeded; the OH decided to weed along one row a few weeks ago and that row has all bolted now The rest are fine though, in among their weeds....

[Two_Sheds]

geraniums were ...crowding out the lillies but... not one lily beetle

ditto.
My lilies in pots (clustered with spuds, carrots & other containers) are unaffected, but the ones in the borders have been riddled with the little beasts (photo in my blog if you want a close-up of the larvae)

[Incy]

You'd think so, but no.
Actually, they weren't straggling along the ground, they grew up and over the surrounding flowers and weeds (weeds grow faster than peas)

Yes I've noticed weeds grow faster than anything else in the veg patch

[Curvy Vixen]

My party trick is to sow seeds. Lots of seeds, straight into the ground, and then not have a flipping clue what's growing 3 weeks later, as to whether it's weed or veg!

Then I wreck my head and my eyes staring like a fool at this bed of weeds, trying to ascertain as to whether there is a straight-ish line of 'weeds' that all look the same and hope that they will be parsnips or carrots or whatever.

Next year, I swear, I will start everything in the greenhouse first!*

*I bet I don't though *

[muckdiva]

I feel much better having read this thread weeds are deffo taking over on my lottie. Thanks guys!