I have gardened in rural Ohio on the same farm for 40+ years. Septoria Leaf Spot was worse each year in my vegetable garden so after trying everything I could find on it, I finally bit the bullet this year and planted my tomatoes outside the garden in existing flower beds. I started my own plants from new seed, 5 varieties. Planted them in shallow trenches with my own compost (I haven't composted tomato vines for many years) and they have taken off beautifully, looking healthy and vigorous and happy. But one at a time,
overnight, 3 of the 18 have suddenly, overnight, wilted badly, starting from the new growth on top. It's been unusually hot, so my first instinct was to water more (tho I'd been keeping them watered), but that did not help. I put newspaper tents over their cages, which helps a little. They are less wilted in the a.m. but the droop soon returns. Fungal diseases come on gradually, not suddenly, and start at the bottom. The leaves are green. The symptoms of bacterial wilt seemed to fit, but it seems not to be a problem in Ohio except for greenhouses. It seems related to humidity and this June it's been hot and dry, like the Southwest. I pulled the worst one out & checked stem & roots. The stem when cut showed a tan line (not dark) just under the skin, but the core was neither spongy nor dark. Put in cold water, it did not leak a milky white juice, though I could see a little white juice in the stem. The roots looked healthy and well developed, and I could see no injury. The 3 affected plants are in 3 separate beds and are 3 separate varieties (Celebrity, Rutgers, and Coeur de Boef). The soil around their roots is damp. They are mulched and in new cages. I have gardened for over 50 years but have never seen anything like this. Help!