Try looking very closely at the area where you think there are eggs laid in that split part of the stem. I am not convinced it is eggs. Tomato stalk borers (caterpillars) can bore into the stalks or stems of tomato plants, but their entry hole will be perfectly round---like a small nail hole---and the stalk borers hatch elsewhere and then bore into the stem. If you have stalk borers, they are easier to prevent than to kill after they appear. If you truly have something inside the stem, I don't know of any chemical treatment, either organic or synthetic in nature, that would kill them, that is available to the home gardener. It is hard to tell from looking at the photo, but I think it is most likely that what you are seeing are adventitious roots, often referred to by several different names including root initials or root primordials. They are fairly common and often develop during periods of high humidity or stress. They aren't harmful----they are the plant attempting to form more roots. They commonly develop on the stalk down near the ground, but can pop up in odd places sometimes, including at the site of a plant injury/wound. If you did have stalk borers, you would find them boring their way through the stalk of the plant similar to the way that squash vine borers work their way through stalk vines. If that were happening, your plant would be looking sad and wilty because the tunneling of a stalk borer would interfere in the way the plant's vascular system transports moisture and nutrients. I don't know of any insect that lays eggs inside a tomato stem. So, since I think it is likely you're seeing some adventitious roots, I've linked a photo that shows a split stem with adventitious roots forming in it. Does this look like the spot on your plant? Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: Image-Split Tomato Stem With Adventitious Roots

If the mix is supposed to contain slow release fertilizer, I think that is what the hollow balls are. I am guessing they are hollow when the mix is dry. When water is added to the mix I am guessing the balls will absorb water and the dry soluble fertilizer inside will dissolve. How's that for a theory? Osmocote or similar slow release fertilizers in potting mixes are often mistaken for eggs. Jim

I live in on old farm land outside of Chicago. The bug was a greyish-beige and about 1 inch long. I tried to take a picture but she was laying eggs during the night, so none of the pictures came out. It was the first time I've ever even seen what kind of bug it was laying the eggs. I'll keep an eye out...if I ever see one during the day, I'll post a picture.

Probably fruitworms. They are moth larvae. The moth, usually active at night, lays tiny eggs. The eggs are hard to see unless you catch them at just the right time, in just the right place. When the eggs hatch the very small larvae find the fruit and burrow in. That's where the larvae stay and grow, along with the fruit. Once big enough, they sometimes travel fruit to fruit leaving a mess behind them. I have never noticed the eggs and never noticed the larvae on leaves. I'm not sure I want to notice them. But they are hard not to see once they invade the fruit. :-) I hate these things - they give me the creeps. I found that spraying the plants with an insecticide for vegetables (such as Safer for vegetable gardens) every week or two has prevented this from happening. I don't get too fancy - just spray the leaves, especially near the flowers and young fruit. I don't go crazy with getting undersides of leaves - I hit them when I can but don't bother with the ones that are too difficult to get at. I start at the flowering stage and then spray every week or two (usually every 2 weeks because I'm forgetful). That does a good job of keeping the fruitworms at bay. I've rarely seen a fruitworm in the last couple of years as a result. I realize that doesn't help you now because the damage is already done, but it may help in the future. I just grow about 10 tomato plants and find that the quart/liter bottle (no mixing required) lasts quite a while. If I run out, I just get an additional bottle. I wouldn't go crazy with stocking up and I wouldn't go crazy using a lot of product unless you have lots of plants.