This is the number one offender. Tomato fruitworms, hornworms, stink bugs, and beetles—they’re all out here acting like your garden is a 24/7 buffet.
I remember one summer when I finally got my tomato plants looking absolutely gorgeous. I was watering them one quiet morning when I saw this massive green hornworm just chilling on a branch like he paid rent. Not only had he chomped through a few leaves, but he’d also made himself at home inside a beautiful red tomato. I was horrified. And impressed? But mostly horrified.
Tomato Fruitworms: These little caterpillars usually enter the tomato near the stem, leaving a small, dark hole.
Hornworms: These are the giants of the garden. They take massive, jagged bites out of the fruit and leaves alike.
Stink Bugs: They don’t always make a deep hole, but they use their needle-like mouths to pierce the skin, leaving a small, cloudy, corky spot underneath.
2. Wildlife (The Drive-By Diners)
If the hole looks more like a shallow scoop or a series of small pecks, you’re likely dealing with backyard wildlife.
Birds: They love the juicy hydration of a ripe tomato. They usually take one or two pecks and move on to the next one.
Squirrels and Rodents: They tend to take a single bite out of multiple tomatoes, just to taste them, leaving the rest to rot on the vine.
3. Environmental Cracks (Nature’s Own “Holes”)
Sometimes, what looks like a hole or a deep gash isn’t caused by a pest at all. If your tomatoes experience a heavy rain after a long dry spell, or if you water them heavily after they’ve been dry, the inside of the tomato grows faster than the skin. This causes the skin to split and crack open, creating a deep fissure that can look like a wound.
To Eat or Not to Eat? The Tomato Triage
The most common question when you find a holey tomato is: Can I still eat this? The answer is usually yes, but it depends on the damage.
The Damage
Is It Safe to Eat?
What to Do
Bird Pecks / Squirrel Bites
Yes.
Simply cut away the damaged area. The rest of the tomato is perfectly fine and delicious.
Worm Holes (Fruitworms)
Yes.
Cut a generous wedge around the hole. Check inside to ensure the worm (or its frass) is completely removed.
Stink Bug Damage
Maybe.
Stink bugs inject an enzyme that can make the surrounding flesh taste bitter or soapy. Cut away a wide margin. If it still tastes bitter after cooking, toss it.
Deep Cracks from Watering
Yes.
If the crack is fresh and dry, it’s safe. If the crack is old, dark, and has mold growing inside it, compost it.
Mushy, Slimy, or Foul Smelling
No.
If the area around the hole is rotting, slimy, or smells bad, bacteria have taken over. Do not eat it.
How to Protect Your Garden (Gently and Naturally)
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