What It Means If You See These Holes in Tomatoes

Okay, real talk—have you ever been in your garden or at the bottom of your grocery bag, pulled out what looked like a perfectly juicy, plump tomato… and then, bam! A hole. Just sitting there like it owns the place. I don’t know about you, but my first instinct is to recoil just a bit and whisper, “What even are you?”

But before we toss that poor tomato in the compost and walk away dramatically (guilty), let’s take a beat. Holes in tomatoes are surprisingly common, and the reasons behind them are actually kind of fascinating—gross sometimes, sure—but fixable. And if you grow your own, you’ve definitely seen this weirdness show up uninvited.

Let me walk you through why this happens, what it might mean for your precious tomato babies, and what you can actually do about it.

holes in tomatoes

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 culprits:

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1. Insects (a.k.a. your tiny sworn enemies)
This is the number one offender. Tomato fruitworms, hornworms, stink bugs, beetles—you name it. 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 gorgeous. I was watering them one 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 tomato. I was horrified. And impressed? But mostly horrified.

These pests chew or bore tiny to gaping holes into tomatoes, leaving behind a mess and possibly some internal damage. The real kicker? Sometimes the outside looks almost fine… until you slice it open.

2. Birds or Squirrels (because they’re jerks sometimes)
Birds and squirrels are cute until they’re not. A few pecks here, a bite there—and next thing you know, your tomato looks like it was used as target practice. Birds are especially attracted to red, ripening fruit, and if you’re dealing with drought, they may be pecking your tomatoes for water.

Pro tip: if you see peck marks near the top of the fruit and it’s mostly untouched, it’s probably a bird. If half the tomato is gone? Blame a squirrel.

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