crisp chillies

Planted out my 3" high chillies into big pots but they haven't grown much in 2+ weeks and a few plants have got crispy leaves.
I propped some old double glazed windows in front of them to give some protection.
Although the pots felt heavy, a furtle found the top of the soil was very dry and the plants' roots weren't that long.
Could I have cooked them? Weather here has been very sunny.
I've given them a water and moved them. Poor things!
Has I dun rite guvs?