Gardener: Researchers encourage us to allow certain kinds of weeds to grow among garden vegetables because they can repel caterpillars from the garden  While it is wise to avoid unnecessary use of insecticides, the researchers' advice is premature
For all we know, those kinds of weeds can deplete the soil of nutrients and moisture that garden crops depend on, and might even attract other kinds of damaging pests
Allowing certain kinds of weeds to grow in vegetable gardens may contribute to a net increase in unwanted garden pests.