@evolverevolve if being a gardener means people see you as gay, then all those Master Gardeners I know that are men will be surprised. You can only be a farmer in the US if you use a $250,000 combine to harvest in the Fall and have at least 100 acres to till.
Watering is down best at ground level; over the tops of the plant can spread diseases and should be avoided, unless you water early in the morning, giving the plant time to dry its leaves the rest of the day. You should know when to water not by leaves turning brown, which could be caused by anything, but by poking your finger down into the dirt near the plant. If you feel moisture an inch or two down, the plant is fine. Keeping your plants mulched lessens the amount of waterintg they need, and keeps the weeds down. By the time the leaves turn brown, or begin to wilt, it might be too late. Some plants are very sensitive to under-watering.
I’m a man, I’ve been gardening for decades. In fact, I’m going for my Master Gardener certification soon, and digging in the dirt didn’t make me gay. Your friends are idiots.