Gardening friends

I have confessed to being very green when it comes to gardening — meaning I have no idea what I’m doing.

When I decided to become a “gardener,” I began my education with the internet by Googling every gardening site I could find. I was looking for simple answers to what I thought were simple questions. What I got was information overload.

Did you know there are at least 58 varieties of tomatoes? There are tomatoes that are better suited for salads and some that are great for burgers. Some tomatoes are more acidy and some sweet. Do I like acidy tomatoes? Do I want staked tomatoes or a vigorous bush variety? Honestly, I just want tomatoes that smell and taste like tomatoes — unlike those mock-matoes you get in the store. Yes, they are red but that is about as tomatoey as they get.

Tomato plant: The homegrown variety

Thank heaven for gardening friends. I am very grateful there are so many real gardeners out there who are willing to share their secrets with me. There is no real competition among gardeners except for the friendly kind. Real gardeners love to see things grow whether they grow in their garden or yours. Now when I have questions, I turn to my newfound friends who are willing to teach me what they have spent years learning.

They didn’t laugh at me when I killed my first plants but instead gave me advice and encouragement as I planted a new one. Because of them, my family and I can look forward to fresh tomatoes in our salad and on our burgers. Thanks.