Not only the numerous hungry pests, but also many weeds (botanically correct: weeds) make life difficult for the gardener. When bindweed and ground elder spread happily in the vegetable patch, many a hobby gardener thinks of quickly effective herbicides, i.e. chemical weed killers. However, these are usually not designated for use in the vegetable garden.
Weeding is best done by hand
Consistently remove weeds
Basically only the repeated and regular manual removal of the weeds helps against the same. Weed between the rows of vegetables, then chop them thoroughly with a bow hoe and cultivator. Mulching also reduces unwanted growth between the crops. Weeds must be removed as they compete with vegetables for light and nutrients, and are often hosts to pests and diseases, which in turn migrate to vegetables. Root weeds in particular often grow so much that they literally wrestle down other plants. These types of weeds (e.g. thistles, couch grass, goutweed and bindweed) should be removed together with the roots using a weed puller.
In severe cases, cover weeds with black mulch film
If weeds in the bed have finally gotten so out of hand that the bed is basically no longer usable, the area can be completely covered with a black mulch film. This is best left for several months, because the deprivation of light and air will kill even the most resilient weeds in the long run. Nevertheless, you should then carefully remove all traces of root that can be found.
Only use herbicides in the vegetable garden as a last resort
There are some weed killers that are approved for home and allotment gardens. In particular, preparations based on pelargonic acid or acetic acid have little impact on the environment. Highly toxic and probably carcinogenic agents such as glyphosate (also known as "round-up"), on the other hand, really have no place in the kitchen garden. However, these herbicides do not distinguish between cultivated plants and unwanted herbs, which is why they have to be applied specifically to the individual weeds. Spraying, brushing or dabbing often has to be done several times to kill the plant.
tips
Anyone who uses herbicides in the kitchen garden should under no circumstances harvest and consume accidentally oversprayed vegetables or herbs. The toxins contained in it also go into the fruits and roots and can have serious health consequences.