Blight from getting wet?

[Grey]

I was just on another fourm and a member was saying how she ran outside at 6am to cover her tomato plants from the rain so they would not get blight from getting wet.

Is this normal? I've never covered my tomatoes except from frost. And that's even considering the "rainy season" in FL where it rains heavily every afternoon, at or around 4pm, and is so humid and sickly outside after that. I grew tomatoes down there for 5 years, so I couldn't have just been lucky.

Just wondering.

[grandpasrose]

The only thing I can think of is that this would prevent soil from splashing up on them, which may carry the dreaded spores.?
VAL

[The Helpful Gardener]

There you are Val. It's not the rain, it's the by-product...


HG

[Grey]

Ah, that would make sense. And maybe her variety is a little more succeptible (sp?) to blight.

[The Helpful Gardener]

It's actually not the blight, but botrytis that is the big issue here, but the damage remains the same...

[opabinia51]

Yes, pruning the lower leaves from the plant may be the answer for your friend (or acquaintence). I don't personally do this but, I have a lot of acquaintances that do and they don't have any problems. (Of course, I don't have any problems either. )

[The Helpful Gardener]

Do it myself and it works great. I'd recommend it...