Things have changed since I started growing, old was to go out in the spring, find a place to plant, prep the soil, plant and go home. About 5-6 weeks later go back and pull runts, return in early fall to pull males, and the next trip was to harvest. We got good weed, but would have been more of it had we been able to tend them, damage was expected,,, bugs, deer rabbits, people,,, in tune with Mother nature, well one of the patches was being eaten by grasshoppers, so I called birds to a feeding ground, ya I know you dont believe that, my planting partner does now!
Here in the yard I use predator bugs, and smash as many bad bugs as I can twice or more each day. I also pay attention to Mother Nature and what she is telling me. This year she is telling me to prepare for winter!