What It Means If You See These Holes in Tomatoes (And How to Save Your Harvest with Grace)

mohmed mohmedonAugust 14, 2026

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 To Eat or Not to Eat? The Tomato Triage

The single most common question we all ask when we find a holey tomato is: Can I still eat this? The really good news is that the answer is usually a resounding yes! However, it really does depend on the specific type of damage. Let’s walk through a simple little tomato triage together so you know exactly what to do.

• Bird Pecks and Squirrel Bites:

  • Is it safe to eat? Yes, absolutely!

  • What to do: Simply take a knife and cut away the damaged, bitten area. The rest of the tomato is perfectly fine, completely safe, and will still be totally delicious in your salad.

• Worm Holes (Like from Fruitworms):

  • Is it safe to eat? Yes, it usually is.

  • What to do: You will want to cut a very generous wedge around the hole to remove it. Be sure to check inside carefully to ensure the worm (or any mess it left behind, like its frass) is completely removed before you eat it.

• Stink Bug Damage:

  • Is it safe to eat? This one is a strong maybe.

  • What to do: Stink bugs inject a tiny bit of an enzyme when they bite that can actually make the surrounding tomato flesh taste very bitter or even slightly soapy. You should cut away a wide margin around the cloudy spot. If you taste a tiny piece and it still tastes bitter or unpleasant after cooking, it is best to just toss it out.

• Deep Cracks from Watering:

  • Is it safe to eat? Yes!

  • What to do: If the split or crack is fresh and the inside looks dry and healthy, it’s safe to enjoy. However, if the crack looks old, dark, and has any fluffy mold growing inside of it, you should definitely send it to the compost bin instead.

• Mushy, Slimy, or Foul-Smelling Areas:

  • Is it safe to eat? No, please do not eat this!

  • What to do: If the area around the hole is starting to rot, feels slimy to the touch, or smells bad to your nose, that means unwanted bacteria have already taken over. It is no longer safe, so throw it away.

 How to Protect Your Garden (Gently and Naturally)

If you want to try and keep your future harvest looking absolutely pristine, please know that you don’t need to resort to using harsh, scary chemicals. There are so many gentle, resourceful, and wonderfully natural ways to protect your beloved plants and keep them thriving.

• The Morning Patrol: Honestly, the very best pesticide you will ever find is your own two feet! Make it a peaceful habit to walk through your garden every single morning with a warm cup of coffee or tea in hand. If you happen to see a hornworm munching away, simply pick it off with your hands (you can wear gardening gloves!) and drop it into a little bucket of soapy water. It might feel a bit gross at first, but it’s a highly effective way to keep your plants safe!

• Floating Row Covers: If you find that you have a very severe insect issue year after year, you can easily place some lightweight, breathable garden fabric over your young plants. This clever trick lets all the beautiful sunlight and fresh water in, but it physically keeps the flying moths from landing and laying their eggs on your precious leaves.

• Encourage Good Bugs: Remember, not all bugs in the garden are bad guys! Friendly insects like ladybugs, delicate lacewings, and tiny parasitic wasps are actually your garden’s best friends and protectors. For example, if you ever see a hornworm with what looks like little white rice-like cocoons stuck all over its back, leave it alone! Those are actually parasitic wasp babies, and they will soon hatch and naturally control the bad pest population for you without you having to lift a finger.

• Consistent Watering: To easily prevent those ugly cracking “holes,” the absolute best thing you can do is try to keep your soil’s moisture as consistent as possible. Add a nice, heavy layer of natural mulch around the base of your plants to help the soil retain its water on hot days, and always try to water your plants right at the roots down in the soil, rather than pouring water overhead onto the leaves.

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