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Puncture marks on my Tomato and Pepper Plants
chrisobrien2194981
Posts: 8
in Fruit & veg
I am fortunate to have use of a greenhouse and this year I have been growing tomatoes, chilli's and peppers.
For the last couple of months I have discovered small puncture holes in the top of the respective fruits and black specks - which I originally thought was ground. Cutting open some of the items I have discovered a small grub in one or two, however, nothing tangible in the others other some discolouration inside. There are no visible signs of any perpetrators?
The leaves on the tomato plants have multiple instances of browning on the tips of the leaves - although I am not sure that this is related to the punctures.
I have trawled various websites in search of an answer but none seem to make reference to the problems I am experiencing.
I was wondering if the extensive knowledge on this forum would be able to assist?
Many thanks in advance for any input/guidance.
For the last couple of months I have discovered small puncture holes in the top of the respective fruits and black specks - which I originally thought was ground. Cutting open some of the items I have discovered a small grub in one or two, however, nothing tangible in the others other some discolouration inside. There are no visible signs of any perpetrators?
The leaves on the tomato plants have multiple instances of browning on the tips of the leaves - although I am not sure that this is related to the punctures.
I have trawled various websites in search of an answer but none seem to make reference to the problems I am experiencing.
I was wondering if the extensive knowledge on this forum would be able to assist?
Many thanks in advance for any input/guidance.
0
Posts
i did not know you guys had those in UK.
The only thing I can think of is the Tomato hornworm which, so far, isn’t usually a problem in the UK and, as @diggersjo says, I thought the holes would be bigger than the ones you show. It’s not a problem
ive experienced with my own tomatoes, so far 🤞
A photo of the larva might help with a positive ID.
Ignore Wargarden’s post … it’s an attempt at humour.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Are there actual holes in the the tomatoes, or is a just a skin blemish?
What does the inside of the tomato look like?
I have also had the same problem with peppers, but only on a few peppers and only once every few years. So I've not bothered to find the cause.
When I've cut them open I can't find anything inside, but there is usually some rot.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
In reply to the various questions:-
- Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of the grub. I cut open a number of tomatoes and peppers today, however, no sign of any grubs! I will continue to try to capture an image of the culprits!! The typical inside of the peppers is captured in the attached image - certainly not edible. The few grubs I have seen have been white and probably around 20mm.
- There are actual holes in the tomatoes and peppers. The majority are at the top of the fruit where it connects to the stem. With the tomatoes the hole is often covered with small black grit which when I brush away reveals a hole.
- I am new to growing so unfortunately I am not familiar with shield bugs, however, I noticed a small spider on one of the plants today - image attached. I have considered spiders as a gardeners' friend as I thought they ate aphids but I am wondering if this is a potential culprit? To add to this theory I should add that I have used wood hazel sticks/branches that were stored in the GH over winter to act as a support mechanism for the tomatoes. Could they have been infested with spiders that have laid their eggs in my fruit?
I appreciate that getting to the bottom of this mystery will not really help this years crop a great deal, however, I would like to learn and eradicate any errors for next year.
Thanks again all for your input!
I've had a similar experience of them on my tomatoes a couple of times - a small hole where they've had a nibble by the stalk and some dried black 'stuff' - droppings.
Someone on the forum did name the type, but I can't remember other than that it was a moth of some sort.
I did eventually find a few under leaves, but they're really hard to spot.
There was no leaf damage to the plants.
Some of the damage to your peppers looks like snail damage
It has nothing to do with spiders at all.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.