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I'm posting pic related to show the noobs what happens when you don't keep up with your weed control. I've just been too busy to keep up with it, and now that I have a chance, I'll be pulling weeds off and on this afternoon in 101f heat. Between day to day life, plus having to take care of my mother due to her having a major surgery, I've had to skimp a few things when it comes to gardening this year.
In those beds are NM chiles - yes, peppers - and they are a third or less the height they should be this time of year. Also, a few just aren't there anymore. This is because I got them into the ground late, the weeds had already started, and the weeds out competed them.
It's not a total loss, because they traditionally don't produce in July even if they are mature enough to do so, because once the daily high is regularly above 90f-95f, they move to more vegetative growth. I also plant extras that I thin, and this year, I can transplant instead of yanking.
I can theoretically get several hundred pounds of green chile out of that much space. This year, I'll be doing good to get 150lbs. Had I just let the weeds go all summer, I would probably get 20lbs.
Next year, I'm pre-germinating the seeds to get a jump on the weeds. Filling in your beds and having your plants established is a legit weed control method, and it is my preferred go-to with regular hand weeding early on. It just didn't work out this year.
So take note if you're new to gardening: Weed control is important.
(For those of you wondering about the beds being the opposite of raised, I live in a desert. I don't worry about drainage, I worry about water retention. Set your garden up for what makes sense in your area.)
