Summer Awnings To Avoid Disease.

Wet foliage is said to contribute to disease and even sunscald.
What if we built our low tunnels in way that could leave the tops on during the summer?
The foliage would stay mostly dry, the rain would soak into the edge of the beds.
Tempatures might be increased, which could be good for some crops.
For others, shade cloth could be added to the roof.
This might even extend the time before bolting for some crops.

Is there a way this could also be used to deter deer? That's a huge problem I have.

As far south as I am, I wonder if it would be too hot in July and August to leave the tops on? But I am all about doing something once and letting stuff take care of itself as much as possible!

I just read about shade boxes this week. Is that a similar idea with the shade cloth?

I grow my tomatoes under a carport that is only open on one face (like an open garage made of an awning on top and walls on the side). We have major problems with insects, a kind of black fungus, and powdery mildew. The tomatoes do great.
(in the region where I live, tomatoes are almost always grown in greenhouses specifically for this reason).
If I had the space, I would put in tunnels and let my plants grow in the ground-- you point out good advantages, principally with watering. In my carport, I grow the plants in large barrels.