The Truth Behind Holes in Tomatoes:

 

The Truth Behind Holes in Tomatoes: What’s Really Eating Your Harvest

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of finding your tomato plants heavy with fruit—until you spot it: a mysterious hole carved into what should have been a picture-perfect tomato. Whether you’re a backyard gardener or a seasoned grower, few things are more frustrating than discovering your hard work has been tampered with.

But those holes aren’t random. They’re clues. And once you understand what causes them, you can protect your plants and reclaim your harvest.

Let’s uncover the truth behind holes in tomatoes—the real culprits, what their damage looks like, and how to stop them for good.

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1. Tomato Hornworms: The Big, Green Tomato Bandits

If you find large, deep holes, especially on the fruit close to the stem, tomato hornworms are prime suspects. These enormous caterpillars blend perfectly into foliage and can strip an entire plant in a day.

Signs It’s a Hornworm

• Large, shallow or deep gouges in the fruit

• Chewed leaves and stems

• Tiny dark pellets (droppings) on lower leaves

• The caterpillar itself—fat, green, and up to 4 inches long

Solution

Handpick them (they won’t bite), introduce beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, or use organic treatments such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) if needed.

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2. Birds: Nature’s Taste-Testers

Bird damage tends to appear as small, neat holes or peck marks. Birds often go after tomatoes not for food but for moisture—especially in hot, dry weather.

Signs It’s Birds

• Uniform, round holes

• Damage appearing mostly in early morning

• Fruit higher on the plant tends to be targeted

Solution

Use bird netting, reflective tape, or decoy objects. A shallow birdbath nearby can reduce moisture-driven pecking.

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3. Fruitworms & Cutworms: The Nighttime Nibblers

These pests create small-to-medium holes, usually near the upper part of the tomato. They often burrow into the fruit, leaving messy internal tunnels.

Signs It’s Fruitworms

• Entry holes surrounded by dark debris

• Rot forming around the damaged area

• Worms or frass (droppings) inside the fruit

Solution

Handpick worms at dusk, encourage predatory insects, and rotate crops yearly to reduce infestation.

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4. Slugs: The Slimy Suspects

If your tomato holes are shallow, jagged, and accompanied by a silvery trail, slugs are to blame. They love ripe, ground-level tomatoes.

Solution

Beer traps, copper barriers, diatomaceous earth, or reducing excess moisture can help keep slugs away.

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5. Cracking & Splitting: Not a Pest at All

Sometimes what looks like pest damage is simply weather-related cracking. Sudden changes in water—like a heavy rain after drought—cause tomatoes to swell faster than their skins can stretch.

Signs It’s Cracking

• Radial splits from the stem downward

• Rough, corky patches around the opening

• No signs of chewing

Solution

Water consistently, use mulch, and pick fruit slightly earlier to ripen indoors.

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6. Blossom End Rot: Another Imposter

This condition creates dark, sunken spots at the bottom of the fruit. While not technically a “hole,” as it develops, the tissue can collapse or fall out.

Cause

Calcium imbalance in the plant—often from inconsistent watering.

Solution

Mulch, maintain steady soil moisture, and avoid over-fertilization with high-nitrogen products.

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How to Protect Your Tomatoes Going Forward

✔ Keep plants pruned and tidy

Pests hide in dense foliage.

✔ Harvest early and often

The longer a tomato sits on the vine, the more likely pests will find it.

✔ Mulch well

Helps prevent cracking, slug activity, and moisture extremes.

✔ Attract beneficial insects

Ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps help control worm populations.

✔ Check plants daily

A quick walk-through can catch a problem before it spreads.

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The Bottom Line

Holes in tomatoes may be disappointing, but they’re also diagnostic clues. Each type of damage points to a specific culprit—whether it slithers, flies, crawls, or simply results from fluctuating weather. Understanding what’s behind those holes is the first step to stopping them, restoring your plant health, and enjoying the vibrant, delicious harvest you worked for.

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