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Tomato problems

codnorbluenosecodnorbluenose Posts: 3
in Fruit & veg
Hi. What has happened to my toms?. It looks like something has been eating the lighter coloured Tom but the deeper red one looks like it has been sliced with a knife. There are several like this on the plant. Thank you. 
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Possibly blossom end rot on the left one, but hard to see on the photo as it looks like the side is damaged rather than the base. Or it could just be from something having a nibble - anything from birds to slugs/snails.
    Magpies will certainly take fruits and eat bits of them  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • benjaminborggrechBvJQoHUpbenjaminborggrechBvJQoHUp Posts: 5
    First thing I would try is Cal-Mag as looks like blossom end rot. Has the soil been moist enough all the time? 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited August 2021
    BER is due to a lack of calcium, but it's usually not due to a lack of calcium in the soil/compost.
    It's usually down to insufficient water being available to transport the calcium up the plant stem, then down the leaves and then to the fruit - but there's not enough water available to get the calcium to the end of the tomato, so it rots.

    Of course there are occasions where there isn't enough calcium in the soil, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

    PS - I'm not sure BER is the problem you have with your toms.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think we need some better photos - of the whole plant too   :)
    I agree with @Pete.8 - it's how the calcium is taken up, or not. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • codnorbluenosecodnorbluenose Posts: 3
    Thanks guys. I don't think it's BER as the problem is not coming from the base of the fruit. Im pretty good with watering so not sure if its acwatering issue. I'm also not sure if its 2 differ problems shown on the two fruits. See another pic of the same tomato. Thanks
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited August 2021
    I reckon slugs and/or snails

    Have a look at some of the images here-
    https://www.google.com/search?q=slug+or+snail+damage+to+tomatoes&sxsrf=ALeKk03n93LVZtVWRMsTGEsRrHETlOtn-g:1628938782447&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjy8vPrrbDyAhXlsaQKHTJyBY4Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1920&bih=1057

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited August 2021
    That's pest damage and looks very much like that caused by caterpillars of the Tomato moth:
    If it is those, they hide during the day and are very, very good at it.  You'll find them hiding in bunches of leaves, or behind supports, stems etc.  Look for small black specks of frass on the lower leaves to confirm.  Otherwise, could be large slugs - I have similar damage to some growing outside and caught the slimy bu&&ers in the act. ;)

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    That look like an even more likely candidate Bob

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I get a few every year in the GH and have learnt to look out for the early signs, but one or two always 'slip the net', Pete.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I have often found droppings on leaves and assumed they were from a caterpillar, but in my case they turned out to be Looper caterpillars that munched through most of my basil a couple of months back. I sowed more and that's not been affected.
    I have had some munched tomatoes in years gone by, so I'll keep an eye out for caterpillars too 

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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