It's commonly called Southern Blight and is frequently seen in gardens in the heat of the summer. Though those symptoms you describe can be attributed to Southern Blight, they also match up with other fungal diseases, too. But look for the tell-tale white fuzzy stuff on the soil and stems (that's the sclerotia). That's something you can readily see with your own eyes. However, a laboratory test might be a good idea, if you are not certain. A well-balanced soil containing plenty of organic compounds is very helpful in helping your plants fight off these ubiquitous diseases naturally. So, too, is providing good growing conditions for your plants, according to specific requirements. Air circulation is essential, careful monitoring of watering practices, good drainage, conservative fertilization practices, and tending to garden housekeeping tasks. Corn meal has long been identified as helpful in preventing several fungal diseases, and yours is one of them. It doesn't work, however, by 'building up the soil' as you say, but by direct fungus against fungus action. Corn meal triggers a rapid growth of a Trichoderma fungus which devours some of the plant pathogens.

I agree with little minnie. The diseases you mention are all associated with humidity and air circulation. I do interplant to increase production in an area, but it is with things that will not increase humidity directly around a plant. For instance I grow lettuce with the tomatoes until the tomatoes are too big and make too much shade. The lettuce is low enough not to increase humidity around the tomato leaves. The thing I have found that helps most with the diseases mentioned is increasing spacing between plants, pruning excess leaves at the bottom of plants, and being sure that there is good air flow around plants, whether in teh high tunnel or outside. Kathy (expecting my first frost next week)

I think I was hypothyroid for many years from puberty all the way up to my 40's. I was finally diagnosed with PCOS but not until 2 years after my son was born. I only have one child because I also had several miscarriages. I was fat and I beleive I was Hypothyroid and depressed for much of my teenage years and through most my 20s and 30s. Until I met my husband. When I was 44 I started losing weight inexplicably. A year later I went into a thyro-toxi-cosis storm and was finally diagnosed with Hyper active thyroid - or Graves disease. Over the last 2 years yes my TSH, my FT3 and FT4 have been tested every 3 months. I have been taking the tapazole for the same 2 years. MY TSH was suppsoed for most of those 2 years and really only came back to in December last year. No as far as I can remember, I have never had any estrogen or adrenal testing done at all. AS I mentioned, I am now doing premarin cream 3 x a week to stop my vagina itching and burning, and so far it's working nicely. I'll try the Mediboard too thanks.

Colleenoz, I've had it for months, too. I've been icing several times a day, using heat to increase blood flow, and doing the stretching exercises. I really only went to the doctor because I was afraid I'd ruptured it. Now that I know I haven't, the pain is bearable. It's definitely less pain than the hip bursitis that will flare up again if I wear the stupid AirCast boot!