what does this?

I only have two that will get leaves like this. and none of the other leaves on the plants do it, just the bottom ones. Is this normal yellowing? the spots are what worry me.

Are the leaf and stalk hard and fragile?

no

Did you let it get too dry? Looks like that kind of yellowing.

well, these are two that are in the five gallon buckets in the ground. it's hard to tell how wet or dry that dirt is on the bottom. I'll try to check them better as I water.