Diana, I had to LOL at this:
“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Vegetable Gardening”
Growing up on a farm in the 50’s / 60’s, everyone knew how to grow everything. I’ll never forget the time I stopped by a small nursery on the way home from the farm about three years ago and $.25 (1/2 teaspoon) worth of leaf lettuce seed. We ate lettuce for more than two years.
So far, my best tomatoes are from seeds I harvested from last year’s crop. I have plants with 5 - 8 tomatoes that are quarter sized. Just waiting for the fresh salads.
You’re so far ahead of me! I only have salad greens to appease me for the time being...but all of my seedlings are doing great; I’ll be picking tomatoes by late July. ;)