HunterOpel, I planted all of my plots around the 9th of August and received a two week dry spell after the plants were about 2 inches tall. Just as you said, the sunny spots died first and then followed the shaded spots. These plots were winter wheat and turnips. The temps got into the low 90's for about 3 days and that's all it took. It burnt them all the way to the ground. I was just as mad as you were... I ended up sticking my finger down into the ground to see how hot the soil was and it damn near burnt my finger. No wonder the roots didn't survive. I just replanted turnips across all the plots on the 1st of September. Will see how they turned out next weekend.

Good luck to you and your plots.