I don't think it is too late for starter plants. I have similar problems with peppers. We experienced a cold snap after I planted them and they have been stunted as a result. From what I have researched, they may never recover completely from this and if they do produce fruit, it may be at reduced yields. I purchased a flat of starter bell pepper plants and planted those just last week. They are already catching up in size and look much healthier than my others. I am pretty confident that I will get green peppers from these plants. However, there may not be time for them to ripen to red before our first frost in the fall. I think starter transplants would be your best option. Give it a shot. Rachel My Blog: GrafixMuse's Garden Spot

You are not to late at all for your summer vegetable crops. You can choose to start them indoors, or you can visit the winter sowing forum and start them outdoors. Look into both, see what you prefer. Or experiment! It may not be too late for some types of cabbage, what type did you get and on the seed packet, how many days does it say to maturity?

justin_linker , OK don't anyone throw toms at me :-)) I would try it. Take your tom and pepper seeds and put them in a glass of warm water 24 hours. Then put the seeds on wet paper towel in a zip bag. Keep them warm. If you have a gas stove with a pilot light in the oven keep them in there with a BIG note on the door so you do not cook them. Check them everyday for roots. When you see roots put them in very moist seed starting mix (NOT jiffy pellets) -- keep the seed mix moist but not wet. Put the whole thing back in the oven and check every day until you see green sprouts as soon as you see sprouts put them under lights or in a really sunny window. I just did this with Jimmy Nardello pepper seeds and from start to seedling leaf stage took me 8 days. I used seed starting heat mat not gas oven. I do have them under shoplights on seed starting heat mat. I keep the seed heat mat on 24/7 and the lights on 16 hours a day. I expect to plant them out in a protected 2-liter soda bottle greenhouse in 2 weeks. Will it work?? Do not know never did this before. *Why no jiffy pellets?? I find seedling leaf are better able to sprout in seed starting mix and that may save you several days IMHO. *No gas oven with pilot light?? Put them on top of the fridge if it is warm up there. The seeds on wet paper in zip bag must be kept at least 70 degrees IMHO. *Protected soda bottle - cut bottom from a green 2-liter soda bottle and punch the entire bottle with holes for air. Put this over plant and keep in a slightly shaded area for few days until plant is large enough to uncover. As we do not know what part of North Carolina you are in - can't really tell if you will have enough time. I am in Central Virginia and I fully expect Jimmy Nardello peppers in August my first frost is usually not until first part of Novermber. If you are in Central or Southern NC you should give it a try - it is only May 16 today! DL (who likes to experiment)

Virus seldom hits numerous plants in one home garden. I'd also suspect herbicide carryover because the symptoms are very similar. It results from persistent herbicide in composted organic materials. See images of damage here: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/aminopyralid/ Be certain to read some of the links at the left of the above page for explanations. And finally, if you suspect this damage to your plants, do the bioassay described at one of the links at the left of the above page. It's the easy, foolproof way to rule out (or in) this sort of herbicide damage.