Kira,

I'm not sure if this was covered before in this thread, but have you been
rotating the area where you grow peppers, tomatoes, eggplants?

I think I had read about "sterlilizing" soil by covering it with clear
plastic for a period, but that might only deal with weed seeds, not critters
and/or plant diseases in the soil.

If you have the room, you might try leaving part of the garden unplanted for
a season or two, to see if that helps.

Anne



Big problem with the "critters" is trying to identify them, or it,
whatever it is.
I can't possibly calculate the workhours spent making solid clay into
gorgeous soil over the last 11 years... I compost everything possible
into it. I grind up the fall leaves with the lawnmower and have
plentiful mulch for it every year. In spring I plant the plants with
compost, topsoil, and permatil (to fight off the voles). It has
always worked all these years. It would be really hard for me to
suddenly do the suburban deck thing with containers and abandon that
loose, black soil to the elements.
I just wish I could kill whatever the problem is, and start fresh.
Cheers,
Kira