Okay, let’s be honest for a moment—have you ever been out in the garden, or perhaps searching through the bottom of your grocery bag, and pulled out what looked to be a nice, plump, juicy tomato… only to find a hole right in the side? It’s just sitting there. I don’t know about you, but my first instinct is to recoil just a bit and say under my breath, “What even are you?”
But before we toss that poor tomato into the compost pile and dramatically turn away (guilty as charged), let’s take a gentle beat. Holes in tomatoes are not all that uncommon, and the reasons behind them are actually quite fascinating—even if the culprits are a little gross sometimes. And if you grow your own tomatoes, you’ve definitely seen some of this weirdness show up uninvited.
Let me take you through why this happens, what it might mean for your beloved tomato babies, and what you’re able to do about it. Because a little hole doesn’t have to mean the end of your harvest.
What Causes Holes in Tomatoes, Anyway?
Let’s start with the obvious: something poked, chewed, or munched its way into that tomato. It didn’t happen by accident. Most of the time, it’s one of these three main culprits.
1. Insects (Your Tiny, Hungry Neighbors)
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.
