Thanks
Laurie
A: Laurie,
There are several possible culprits to the holes in your ripe cherry tomatoes-namely birds or worms. Because you mentioned the holes appear as soon as your tomatoes turn red, you might be sustaining damage from birds. Small, deep holes, 1/4 to 1/2 inches in diameter (with rough, serrated edges) are probably the best indicators you have birds feasting on your ripened tomatoes. One way to prevent this is to slip old pantyhose around the tomato clusters until you harvest them. The birds will not be able to peck through the nylon. You might also consider picking your tomatoes at first blush instead of waiting until they ripen. Just set them in a bowl at room temperature and they'll ripen in a few days to a week. Picking them at this stage will also increase your yields.
Tomato fruit worms, Hornworms and the tiny Tomato pinworms (most common in California) also chew deep holes in the fruits, but if this were the case, you would see visible evidence of the worm's presence and be able to remove them by hand picking.
About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
Hi - I don't know what is eating and putting holes in your little tomatoes - darn. You could try removing the tomatoes just when they are about to turn red.
First of all, your container should have drainage holes. If it doesn't, part of the problem may be that you are over watering them. You shouldn't need to water them everyday. Every two or three days should be sufficient. It's also possible that either birds or bugs are eating your tomatoes. I am also growing tomatoes in containers, and have had trouble with bugs and birds. For the bugs, you might want to use an insecticide. A really great and cheap organic insecticide is called BT. You should be able to find it at gardening stores, or Lowes or Home Depot. You want to look for something that contains BT or Bacillis Thuriengis. It's a biological, naturally occuring insecticide/pesticide that is wonderful for treating tomato problems. You should reapply it about every 7 days, or after it rains. It is so safe that you can use it right up to the time of harvest.
I had the same problem, put a circular type tomato cage in the pot. Then this is the amazing part. I bought about 2 yards of fine netting and sewed the sides together to form what looked like a pillow case. I zig zaged a piece of heavy yarn at the bottom to make a drawstring. I then put the netting over plant and tightened the cord at the bottom. No more bug bites. Simply untie and reach inside for tomatoes, it works.
Could be birds, they peck at our tomatoes. We also have groundhogs steal them, just at the peak of ripeness! The netting sounds like a good idea. If you don't want to net each plant, build a small & simple "tomato house/cage" with wood & staple the netting to that, place all the plants inside the "house".
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
