Did you harden off the plants by gradually exposing them to outside conditions? If they went from being inside next to a sunny window to straight into containers outside, it could be sun burn or wind burn. Cucumbers and zucchini don't like their roots disturbed so most people direct seed them into their permanent growing space. They grow so fast from seed, you don't really gain much by starting them inside. And you risk setting them back with transplant shock.

I agree that it is most likely that cucumber beetles introduced bacterial wilt to your cucumbers. The disease is not in your soil, it's in the beetles. There is no cure. You can only prevent the problem by choosing resistant varieties and using an appropriate insecticide from the beginning. I had the same problem with my cucumbers until I grew Diva cucumbers, which are supposed to be unappealing to the beetles, and started spraying regularly with spinosad. I never saw the beetles on my cucumbers, but I did see a few on other plants. Cucumbers grow fast, so you can choose a resistant variety and start over. Here is a link that might be useful: Info on bacterial wilt

You want a travelogue, Digit? Since Paige’s babies are in the ground, I think this thread is getting near it’s end, so I’m gonna hijack it! You have to work for my pics nowadays—click on the links if you want to see them! (STILL hoping houzz enables posting directly thru our hosting sites!) Ute Mountain Tribal Park – This is the MOST amazing place! Unlike Mesa Verde, the ruins have been “stabilized,” but not reconstructed at all. If you do the private tour you’re out there with JUST you and your Ute guide! No mobs of pushy tourists, or screaming kids, or crying babies! The Land, the Sky, the Ruins—and SILENCE! This will be my fifth tour! Eagle Nest Ruin https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GxsLQt3RvHg1gWGz0C-tJMu3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AoQUvkKLjaC9CDM48BVwUMu3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YgfdCcazTHji7WkJ3y2l0su3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink Anasazi check dam https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/a0SSpJMnc1v3vOHOtSbEAcu3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink Touching allowed! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Jp58XHPADGTzA6YvuNRyGAPPcO__tq0XI6jlKd1A8Lg?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XuYJwlNhZrKq3Z0ZqpoKEDXOWC84uOzz_SUFrOB4Ios?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Jp7CSWueIdrg27TupwW9OwPPcO__tq0XI6jlKd1A8Lg?feat=directlink Ute pictographs! Painted by Chief Jack House, last traditional chief of the Ute Mountain Utes, and the person who first suggested establishing the Tribal Park https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JGnl1XH75L8_NBDOjDPSATXOWC84uOzz_SUFrOB4Ios?feat=directlink Lion House Ruin https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sq3yZ41RqjUnlesC5N_1Isu3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7U6hAv8GZPbW4P4Ed71fusu3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink Might go back to Hovenweep while I’m at Cortez https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z5pjdRMLxXpqSZjrnQ7KltMJwEJu7S9TmfnPFCLld1w?feat=directlink Chaco – This place has some of the “reconstructed stuff” going on, but it’s an AMAZING place! Not sure if I’m gonna do the top of the cliff again, or stay “on the ground” this time! Pueblo Bonito from the top of the cliff https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vrwxLUn8fJaRz1vZC-2aD8u3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aMzyD2DyM-GoVBnHs_pNS8u3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8vwum3K6epYqxx563LncaAHiQ7e0JaUkODLHPIo1yzQ?feat=directlink Anasazi gutters! (This is a “modern” attempt to prevent deterioration of part of the ruins!) https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RF9PPufGLQDg58SygeMUSwHiQ7e0JaUkODLHPIo1yzQ?feat=directlink Jackson (Anasazi!) Stairway https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iOOqMuSDHL2YdtufAjbqFsu3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink Part of Kin Kletso https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mwndUbg1fQLnogCVY0xzbcu3xild7CAM5AtpV5WZ988?feat=directlink Part of Chetro Ketl https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y8T_eKISjMr4MbcFNjzf6BwHfw8Hw_uzbe74fAT89FY?feat=directlink And haven’t decided for sure if I’m going back to Aztec Ruins again this time. Another “reconstructed” kind of place, but, again, pretty amazing! (The captions on the pics are taken from the “walking tour” booklet and other Park literature.) https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Cv7CFpwe7dQSptIeyH0_WJczWxF2Gp7vK_a52GaQbUY?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GHx-mUMAn7MUBrRT3Iz5kJczWxF2Gp7vK_a52GaQbUY?feat=directlink https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/u_GVTxVmG1LAP73lAKyypZczWxF2Gp7vK_a52GaQbUY?feat=directlink And might go back to Chimney Rock while I’m at Ignacio—it’s our newest National Monument! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oEyYVolzRtiCxOY_rHqnRev5cuQDI7_41D0YsYe0_FQ?feat=directlink And I might even go back to Mesa Verde--where I've been going since the mid 60s! Did I mention that I’m interested in the Ancient Ones! If anyone is interested in gong to any of these places, I will gladly help with info about where and what to do—AFTER I get back from my trip! Skybird P.S. You may now have your thread back, Paige! ;-)

Don't blame the soil for inhibition of root function due to soil temperature extremes. If the soil is still moist and your plants are wilting, it's not the soil's fault. Soils with less air in the root zone would be worse, because a lack of O2 or gas exchange in the root zone inhibits water uptake which = more severe wilting. Try shading the pot or using a pot-in-pot technique with coarse material you can moisten (pine bark, pea stone ....) between the pots. Either/both will help keep soil temps cooler, as will using terra cotta pots. There is also a difference between soils being too airy for plants or too airy for the grower. Plants love lots of air in the root zone and damp or moist conditions. In order to avoid tall PWTs, a soil needs to be airy. If you need to water twice a day, a soil might be too airy for the grower, but still close to ideal for the plant if it's watered twice per day during stretches of extreme temps or sun loads. Al