Eli5 Why are weeds so hard to kill while desirable plants so hard to keep alive?

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The original was posted on /r/explainlikeimfive by /u/Emergency_Table_7526 on 2023-06-27 22:28:32+00:00.

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Weeds grow, well, like weeds, out of the cracks of the pavement with nothing but municipal runoff to keep them alive. Meanwhile I have to work tirelessly to keep my tomato and pepper plants happy and fruitful. Why do weeds dominate a garden?