[duajones]

I would like to solarize the smaller bed with clear plastic as you mentioned. I have also noticed that while the soil directly around the stem of the plant is moist, the surrounding soil seems to dry out fairly quickly for whatever reason. I have amended that particular bed beginning in late 2006 and again twice a year with composted cotton burr, cow manure and such, the same as I did the larger bed where there is no wilt. Something about the soil in that small bed that I dont understand. I might throw some expanded shale at it this fall when I till to hopefully improve the viability of the soil overall. I dont know if it will help but something is different in this soil for some reason.