I havde been working out in the raised beds for several hours. The ones affected are the smaller varieties that are also new for me this year. Most are the fuzzier textured one. There definitely is no rot, just shrinking up and drying into crispy balls. I have completely lost my wonderful new S. 'Speciosum' to this. Several others are in danger. They are under shade cloth for sun protection, the soil is drying out pretty fast.
I feel the correct thing to do after reading your above advice is to remove the struggling ones from the raised bed and put in pots that can get individual attention for water needs.
All of my heuffs are doing well, minus the ones that decided to bloom. I am beginning to see that some varieties of Semps, Jovi and heuffs are much tougher than others in the same growing conditions.
I will go out and take pictures of the struggling plants. Ones right next to them are doing very well.
