weeding - or not

[rainbowgardener]

I am getting more and more careful about what I pull out when weeding. I leave a lot of the edibles like purslane and lambs quarters and others with beneficial qualities for the garden.

Yesterday I was weeding and mulching one of the garden beds. Found a weed I didn't recognize (if I get a chance later, I'll post a picture). But I noticed all its leaves were covered in holes. Looked a little smaller than typical slug holes, but a little bigger than typical flea beetle holes. But the weed was growing right next to broccoli and cabbage and there were no holes in the broccoli/ cabbage leaves. So I figured whatever it is is doing a great job as trap crop, so I left it alone!

[shadylane]

A garden blessing in disguise perhaps

[CharlieBear]

watch it closely, if it starts to form flowers or seed heads get it out of there immediately. It may not be a pest trap, but is simply being attacked by something very different than would eat the cole crops.

[rainbowgardener]

Well, as it got more developed, became obvious that it was some kind of nightshade. As it was getting ready to flower, I pulled it. It does seem like it was protecting the cabbages, because they are usually pretty heavily damaged and they were untouched. I just pulled the nightshade a couple days ago, so I'm not sure if the cabbages will now start to get eaten.

[shadylane]

I read that some observers think nightshade in the garden indicates that the soil is tired of root crops.

[imafan26]

I have way too many weeds. I pull out many good plants in the process.