There are no soil fungicides available. The blight fungi overwinter in the soil and are spread to the leaves of new plants when the leaves touch the ground or when rain or watering splashes soil onto them. Mulching around susceptible plants will help keep soil splashing to a minimum. You are not going to be able to get rid of the fungi, but there are steps you can take to keep your plants healthy: 1. Remove every trace of infected plant material from your garden and put it in the trash. 2. Practice crop rotation. Do you also grow potatoes? Eggplants? Peppers? Blight can infect all of these members of the Solanaceae family. 3. Several foliar fungicides are registered for early and late blight and are effective when applied at approximately seven- to 10-day intervals. Spraying should commence at the first sign of disease or immediately after bloom. 4. Plant varieties that are resistant or have a lower susceptibility to early blight. Contact your local Extension office for a list of resistant vegetable varieties and recommended fungicides for control.

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