White Spots Inside Tomatoes. As a gardener, I take pride in growing fresh, disease-free, and juicy tomatoes. But this isn’t always the case.
My heart breaks whenever I see white spots inside tomatoes.
What was the reason for this occurrence? Is it preventable?
I was also skeptical about feeding these tomatoes to my family.
So, I researched why there were white spots inside tomatoes and what I could do. Continue reading to know more.
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White Spots Inside Tomatoes
White spots in tomatoes could be due to pest infestation, a sign of disease, nutrient deficiency, or uneven ripening. Prevention or treatment of white spots also varies depending on the cause. For example, if your tomatoes have pests, you can remove and kill the bugs by spraying water or neem oil.
What Leads To White Spots On Or Under the Skin of Tomatoes – 6 Causes
Here are some of the reasons you see white spots on or under your tomatoes’ skin.
1. Stink Bugs
One main reason my tomatoes had white spots were stink bugs. They were feeding on my tomatoes on the inside.
They are like mosquitoes but, in this case, like tomato juice. With needle-like mouths, they can suck the tomato juice from the inside.
Instead of a red bump in the case of skin, they leave a yellowing white spot that runs from the skin to the end of insertion.
2. Other Insects and Pests
Stink bugs aren’t the only pests you should look out for. Beetles, aphids, whiteflies, thrips, leafhoppers, spider mites, and lead-footed bugs like tomatoes.
They operate like stink bugs and pierce their needle-like mouths on the tomato skin.
Once they inject the saliva toxin into ripening fruit, it forms a white spot.
3. Deficiency In Some Nutrients
In other cases, your tomato plants might lack critical nutrients for development. Nutrient deficiency can also lead to other problems in your tomato such as blossom end rot.
It is easy for gardeners to reverse this problem and avoid future whit spot problems by adding a balanced organic fertilizer often to the tomato plants.
4. Sunscald
Even tomatoes suffer if exposed to too much sunlight. People suffer from sunburns, and tomatoes suffer from sunscald when exposed to too much sun.
Sunscald appears as a discolored spot on the tomato. This happens during the development stage of tomato ripening.
Do not prune your tomatoes excessively so that it has enough foliage to protect it from excessive sun.
5. Cotton Spot
Persistent humid and hot environmental conditions are often the cause of cotton spots on tomatoes.
At the prime of tomato development, they are susceptible to cotton spots which also appear as a white spot on the tomato skin.
This was one of the problems my tomatoes had and all I did was ensure my soil drained well.
I also added eggshells and bone meal to add calcium levels to my soil and decrease the risk of any disease.
6. Bacterial Canker
You can confuse a bacterial canker with a stink bug white spot. To differentiate the two, use a magnifying glass to view your white spot.
Does it have a dark perimeter around it? Then that is bacterial canker.
It is caused by the use of unsterilized garden tools while gardening.
Causes Of White Spots Inside The Skin
If you notice white spots inside the tomato, it could be due to uneven ripening. It could also be due to high temperatures and diseases.
The white-yellowing spot decreases tomato quality and taste.
Why Your Tomatoes Are Not Ripening
- Temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and under 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Sandy and compact soil
- Poor drainage. Excessively wet soil can cause poor root growth resulting in unripened tomato fruit.
- Less potassium. It decreases magnesium and calcium absorption which is necessary for tomato maturity.
Reasons For Uneven Ripening
- Diseases caused by viruses
- Sandy or compact soil
- A temperature under 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Whiteflies infestation
- Blossom end rot
White Spots On Tomato Leaves — Their Causes
Sometimes the white spots can be found on your tomato leaves.
Take a peek at the causes leading to white spot formation on your tomato’s leaves.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungus that is common in tomato plants. The reason for white spots on leaves or stems is powdery mildew.
If you grow your tomatoes in cold or hot and humid weather, there is a chance you know this problem all too well.
Environmental Conditions
If your tomato plants have too much shade or sun, it can lead to fungus development.
You should prune your tomato plant adequately to prevent white spots on leaves.
Pest Infestation
Insects and pests are pesky little creatures from all gardeners. God knows how these pesky creatures have deprived me of fresh-looking juicy tomatoes.
They could also be the cause of white spots on your tomato leaves and the fruits.
The juicy tomato leaves are enticing to insects. They suck the juice with their needle-like mouths hence the white spots on the leaves.
Prevention and Treatment
Once a tomato has white spots, it is impossible to reverse the process.
What I did with tomato plants included the following;
- Manually removed bugs and eggs. I opted for the manual removal of bugs instead of pesticides. You will find them hiding under the leaves.
- Remove the infected plant area in case of disease. Remove the diseased area of the plant and ensure it is nowhere near your garden.
- Cut the white spot on the tomato. While eating, you can cut the white spot. The other part of the tomato will not affect you.
Black Spots on Tomato Leaves
If you find black spots on your tomato leaves, it is most likely the cause of bacterial leaf spot, blight, or plant pests such as aphids. You can read more about black spots on tomatoes here.
Frequently Asked Questions About White Spots Inside Tomatoes
Can You Eat Tomatoes With White Spots?
You can. All you have to do is cut out the area with the white spot and throw it away. You won’t have any issues, but you’ll notice slight changes in tomato taste.
How Can You Stop White Spots On Tomatoes?
You can stop white spot formation on your tomatoes by identifying its cause. Go through the article to know the best solution for your white spot problem on tomatoes. If unsure, remove the affected area and get it away from the garden.
Conclusion On White Spots Inside Tomatoes
Now that you know why white spots are inside your tomatoes and how to stop them, you are all set. Whether stinky bugs or bacterial canker is the problem, there is no need to worry.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.