Unknown Holes in Tomatoes

higam · August 11, 2010

Fellow tomato growers,

My neighbor has a garden that is roughly 200 feet from my garden. His tomatoes have recently had a problem with small holes in the fruit (photos attached). Does anyone know what the cause of these holes is? Also could whatever is causing these holes spread to the tomatoes in my garden? Is there any treatment?

Thanks for the help!

Higam

Tomato 1.JPG

Tomato 2.JPG

Timmah! · August 11, 2010

Noticing any damage to the foliage? My guess would be a fruitworm...

Hane · August 11, 2010

Birds, likely young starlings. I've caught them in the act once or twice. Starlings are a little like squirrels-- very smart, curious, will try anything once or twice. I suspect they think the red means it's a big berry.

rsg2001 · August 11, 2010

My guess is caterpillars. I just caught one in the act a couple days ago eating a small Hawaiian Pineapple (I know that sounds funny, but it's true!). It looked like a baby celeryworm - striped.

If there's caterpillars around, use B.T. - environmentally safe.

August 11, 2010	#1
higam Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2	Unknown Holes in Tomatoes Fellow tomato growers, My neighbor has a garden that is roughly 200 feet from my garden. His tomatoes have recently had a problem with small holes in the fruit (photos attached). Does anyone know what the cause of these holes is? Also could whatever is causing these holes spread to the tomatoes in my garden? Is there any treatment? Thanks for the help! Higam Tomato 1.JPG Tomato 2.JPG

August 11, 2010	#2
Timmah! Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elizabethtown, Kentucky 6a Posts: 754	Noticing any damage to the foliage? My guess would be a fruitworm...

August 11, 2010	#3
Hane Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: VT Posts: 1	Birds, likely young starlings. I've caught them in the act once or twice. Starlings are a little like squirrels-- very smart, curious, will try anything once or twice. I suspect they think the red means it's a big berry.

August 11, 2010	#4
rsg2001 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Zone 6 Posts: 479	My guess is caterpillars. I just caught one in the act a couple days ago eating a small Hawaiian Pineapple (I know that sounds funny, but it's true!). It looked like a baby celeryworm - striped. If there's caterpillars around, use B.T. - environmentally safe.