I appreciate your postings. The fertilizer used was Vigoro 13-13-13. Something was needed to kill the aphids. Maybe I OD'd on the amount but it was only used on the tomatoes grown from seed that were infested with aphids. I didn't touch the peppers or the bought plants. It looks like 4 of those Pyola'd plants are struggling to shoot new leaves from stalks (existing leaves are brown). I didn't harden the plants. To me, planting in TN in early May is like planting in MA in June. I moved to midTn several years ago and love the extended palnting season. I had collars on all the plants to discourage cutworms. The nematodes have shipped from Gardens Alive... The organic matter was store bought - 1. I don't have the bag and 2. topsoil from local garden center. I'm still going to add peat moss - I'm constantly trying to improve the clay. The boxes we built last year have helped that a lot. Last year was a great garden. Since the posting on Sunday a.m., I have spoke with a local prof from MTSU who alerted me to an aphid infestation - not just my tomatoes. He recommended Sevin; admired me for trying to stay organic but told me in TN, Sevin is needed. Several tomatoes plants have sprouted from last year's droppings which must have been turned under. As happy as I am to see them, their presence confounds me more. The purchased broccoli is struggling - dropping leaves. This was added after the tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. I have also gone to the Co-op. Fellow there took a look at the tomato stalk and said it wasn't bugs. Suspected a fungus and sent me to the extension service for a soil test. Have brought soil sample from the beds to the extension service - results in several weeks. While collecting the soil, (misty day), I found an 1" long black snail under a pepper stalk. Never saw that before - snails in the garden. At least I think it's a snail - had 2 horns but no shell. Well, I went and bought replacement peppers, tomatoes and eggplant but am nervous to put them in. Also nervous about starting from seed in the garden but hope springs eternal. The seed is going on the flat ground, not the boxes. your ideas are so appreciated

Set it in the shade for a few days until it recovers- IMO it just has more leaves than the few roots can support. Dead heat of summer was perhaps not the best time to be doing this. And a faster draining media would be better- adding BB's to pudding still leaves you with a cup of pudding :)

pea forum ... who knew ... wait.. i didnt find a pea forum ... what was the answer .... i was go to tell a newb.. that it is a very short season plant ... and the simple solution is to rip it out.. and be done with it ... perhaps suggest.. planting in waves next year .... plant a few seed every two weeks or so ... see if you cant extend the bounty a bit more ... can you link us to the answer??? the hardest lesson for a newb.. IMHO ... is when to call it quits ... in FALL!!!! ... yes.. its very close.. even in z9 ... remember.. that even though your are very temperate... the sun is in decline... less intense .. and plants are shutting down .. some.. much faster than others ... and its not really time to be treating those 'cures' .... if you recall on the pea seed pack ... it probably said something like.. and its been 30 plus years since i looked at one ... germination in 7 days .. and harvest in 45 ... meaning.. fast.. furious ... and kaput.. done with ... especially.. compared to your fall harvest plants like ... broccoli.. kale ... brussel sprouts... etc ... the crops that were marked 120 days to harvest.. or some such.. again.. i am just using numbers as example.. you can look them up for real ... good luck... you are on the verge.. of no longer being a rookie... lol ... thx ken Here is a link that might be useful: found it...

Yes, you aren't the only one who has jumped the gun and planted seedlings that weren't properly hardened off seems I made that mistake myself. :) My experience for that was what has been suggested shade them and keep hydrated. The plants will look terrible for a while and you may lose all leaves but, BUT hang in there cause the middle section where the main stem is might rally and grow so don't pull them yet give them a chance. Tomato plants still amaze me they are so forgiving sometimes. I remember accidently breaking off a rather large stem and just for the heck of it I stuck it in the ground and it ended up growing into a beautiful plant and giving me a great harvest ta boot. Best of luck :)