You've given me hope, Elaine. I did find the soapy water got rid of the aphid infestation I got on peppers earlier this summer. I may do as you do and forget trying to grow anything in the summer. It obviously was more that I was up to this year. I did have the horn worm on the tomatoes I tried to grow and the BT took care of them, but then the plants began to look as you described and finally the leaves turned to lace as something ate the leaves. I think a blight of some kind also hit them. I bought and tried 2 plants from Home Depot that were supposedly developed for Florida weather. Just as you described, one day they look great; the next they're wilting and soon dry up even being in an earthbox the what is supposed to be 'ideal' watering.
Sorry to hear zucchini won't be in my future here, but I suppose I can't have everything.
You've gotten me excited once again about trying to grow something here. Thanks for sharing your experience and advice.
