Q: My Brandywine tomatoes look like some kind of mutants. The plant started off looking very healthy and was mulched and fertilized as I have always done. The first tomato harvested looked ok but did not have a good taste or texture.

A: The odd shape is called catfacing. It seems to be caused by cool or hot temperatures during pollination and fruit set. I can also be caused by too much fertilizer.

Big-fruited varieties are more prone to the condition than medium-fruited varieties.

Don’t set out your plants too early in spring.