Our first best guess, Gladys, is the soil. Is if sufficiently organic, composted, and rich?? See specifics above. And did the canes get sufficient water? (How much? hard to measure—maybe an inch a week.) If the soil is properly prepared it will hold moisture better than poor soil, even it you do not water and it does not rain.
You say you see no bugs o your plants…that’s good but if your canes are dried up and wilting, it could be verticillium wilt, caused by a soilborne fungus. You might have introduced the fungus into the soil with the plants… it’s possible and difficult to confirm. If that’s the case, it might be best—if possible—to start the patch elsewhere, with proper soil and disease-free stock.
Our first best guess, Gladys, is the soil. Is if sufficiently organic, composted, and rich?? See specifics above. And did the canes get sufficient water? (How much? hard to measure—maybe an inch a week.) If the soil is properly prepared it will hold moisture better than poor soil, even it you do not water and it does not rain.
You say you see no bugs o your plants…that’s good but if your canes are dried up and wilting, it could be verticillium wilt, caused by a soilborne fungus. You might have introduced the fungus into the soil with the plants… it’s possible and difficult to confirm. If that’s the case, it might be best—if possible—to start the patch elsewhere, with proper soil and disease-free stock.
Wish we had better news!