Last year, the two-family garden plot was properly prepared and planted.
About 4-5 weeks into the growing season, plants began to show signs of
some sort of disease (similar to blossom-rot). Foilage would begin
turning from green to yellow then to black and later falling off from
bottom to top of plant. The plant "appeared to die from the ground up.

Squashes went first, then tomatoes, then green peppers. Most beans
seems to survive longer but did eventually succumb. Only potted Hot
Peppers made it through the entire growing season but other tomatoes
potted suffered the same results as their cousins planted directly in
the ground.

I live in Florida (NE) and about 1000 yds from a major creek. Elevation
is about 15-20 feet above.

My suspicion is a fungal infection in the soil. ?? treatable with
copper sulfate???

Thanks in advance,

Robb