Watering a garden

Ok so I may sound like a fool for asking but I'm sure I'm not the only one. This is my first time to have a garden that I'm doing solo. It's hard to know how much water to give a house plant little own a entire garden. The one thing I can tell you is that every house plant that I have ever purchased has been over watered. So when I bring it home I let it get good and dry before I worry about it. I also know that it is said to be better to soak a plant once a week rather then sprinkle it every day. I guess the answer to the question is stick you finger in the dirt and if it is dry then get it wet. My mil told me that she never waters her garden