Betsy, SO sorry to read that you have been having problems also. So far.....fungus gnats are not on my present list of problems...Thank God for small favors. I really have had enough to deal with, so I'm very thankful that fungus gnats isn't on the list too. I would guess that everyone has different mixes that they use for their seeds. This is a potting mix recipe I came across a while back and it works well. That is if you don't do something stupid like I did and not follow it. :-( 1-2 cu. ft. bag of pine bark fines or soil conditioner. Then add (1) 2lb can of Pro Mix If the ProMix you are using already has perlite in it, you only need to add 3lb medium grade, if it doesn't have any perlite, you should add (2) 2lb. coffee cans of perlite. If the ProMix you use has Limestone added you should throw in a handful of dolomitic lime. If it doesn't have any....you should add 1/4 cup dolomitic lime (not high calcium and not peletized). Add 1/4 cup agricultural gypsum, 1/4 cup Miracle Grow 20-20-20 or any other water soluable complete fertilizer. Add 1/8 cup Epsom Salts, and 2 TBS garden sulfur. 1 1/3 cup Merit Granular (optional to control fungus gnats). I've never used the Merit insecticide, because I've never had fungus gnat problems (knock on wood). Anyway.....you need to mix these ingredients real well dry, and then mix thoroughly again when wetting. Like I said earlier.... I'm sure this is but one variation on a theme, but if followed it does seem to work quite well. Hope this helps. Linda

I'm inclined to think it is transplant shock, especially if you were not incredibly gentle with the roots. Think about everything on Scott's list too. If the wind has been blowing hard there like it has blown here, no wonder they look unhappy. Did you water them in well after you transplanted them? I'd be a little concerned about the compost too unless it is your own home-made compost and you've used it before with no problem. I'd be especially concerned if it is a compost that's high in manure. Regarding the hardening off of plants, a reputable wholesaler should harden off the plants so they gradually become accustomed to the outdoor light/wind after being raised in a sheltered greenhouse or low or high tunnel. However, I've seen plants with sunburned leaves on the shelves at retailers this year so I know they were sent from the wholesale to retailer before they were hardened off. Plants that have sunburnt will have faded out/bleached out leaves or white, tan or light brown splotches on parts of the leaves. Tell us what it is about the plants that look bad. Wilting? Discoloration? Straight stem but droopy leaves? Leaves yellowing from the bottom of the plant upward? What size container did they come from? Did you transplant a single plant from a container to the ground or did you maybe find the container had 3 plants so you separated them out and planted each individually? The more detail you give us about what you did when planting, the better the chance we'll be able to figure out what might be wrong. Dawn

Cjohansen, Don't buy your Perlite from the big box stores, or if you do, don't get the Miracle Gro stuff.. it is waaaaaaay overpriced. Im not sure where you are located, but if you are on the east coast (US) Agway has it at really good prices, around 20 bucks for 3 cubic foot bags. I think you can order 6 cubic foot bags online too for really good prices. Mom and Pop type nurseries are always good to check too, but some of them are more overpriced than the big box stores, while others have great deals... it's just hit or miss. Look in your yellow pages for agricultural supply stores and farm and feed type businesses. It's always good to start familiarizing yourself with local sources for supplies. I'm not sure what ratio of Perlite you should add to the compost, but probably a pretty large percentage, possibly upwards of 40%.

let it really dry out. Unless it starts wilting, let it go to the weekend. Less water is better than more water. Believe me, I have waterlogged plants in pots here from the May-June continual rains, lots of yellow leaves, some really sad blossom end rot on my tomatoes (i.e. from the continual soaking in rainwater - interferes with calcium uptake which causes the fruit to rot when it's grown and almost ready to eat - very demoralizing) - you gotta get those plants dry and then keep them dry. Don't water unless you have to - unless their wilting etc. Then get them on a regular minimalist regimen of one good thorough watering once or maybe twice a week in the early morning. As a side note, I've been having a really tough time with serranos. Of the 15 or so varieties I'm growing, my two serranos are the least robust and seem to react the worst to the weird rainy, cold weather we've had this year.