Oh my Larry, that's a dilemma for sure. Now you've got me thinking, what in the
world would I do?
For the pods, what about securing them with some fabric mesh, or panty hose. Something to catch the seeds should they break open while you're gone. Maybe
something water proof to keep the seeds from sprouting. A foil cap over the
fabric mesh perhaps? Imagine what that would look like. Oh my. Still, I would
be out in the garden trying some crazy thing to save the seeds.
I had some pods that were near maturity, and for some reason that I don't
remember, I had to gather them. I cut the scapes and brought them inside,
put the scapes in a vase, several vases in fact, and they ripened that way. Of course,
I was present to change the water if needed. Don't know if that makes a
difference. The seeds were all viable too.
As for the weeds, they will be right there awaiting your return. Unfortunately.
How much time do you have before leaving for vacation? Is there enough time
to cut some of the foliage? I grab a hand full of fans, and hubby uses a big serrated
knife to slice through it. It's faster work for us to cut foliage this way, and we
cut it to clean the garden before the first hard freeze eliminating much of the
dreaded spring clean up.
This is not much help in the suggestion department, but it's all I can think of
at this time. Sorry.