THOMAS-GARFIE Garden Summertime Start Ups

August may be a bit much for these tender newbies, so they need shade when first planted. Additionally, using a drip line or ground irrigation, rather than a sprinkler will help keep the soil temperature a cooler so as not to cook the seeds or roots. Be sure to add a layer of mulch on top of both seeds and seedlings to maintain the moisture and provide another barrier to the intensity of sun and heat.

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” Just mosey out to the garden and snip a couple of tomatoes and cucumbers for supper, perhaps a few fried squash. Nothing better than fresh-from-your-own-garden vegetables. Unless there was no time to plant your garden this spring.

Fortunately, in Oklahoma we have several growing opportunities for vegetables. In fact, historically, right here in the Cherokee Strip Land Outlet fall turnips were what many settlers survived on that first winter! If you don’t like turnips, there are many other fall vegetables that you can plant right now for a cool weather harvest.

If you want to start with some seedlings for vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale or kohlrabi, remember to harden them off a bit first. They need reduced water and exposure to sun for three to five days before transplanting. Many vegetables can also be started as seeds. Seeds will sprout based on the hours of sun, rather than the temperature. These hot days of intense sun in

According to Oklahoma State University Extension Office, many of these plants can be started at the beginning of August. Be sure to provide some shade, such as screen wire strips or shade cloth to cover the rows. This will also moderate soil temperature and moisture. Some vegetables may be started in a seed flat, setting them in small containers for a month and then transplanting them into the garden when the nights are a bit cooler. A few vegetables that benefit from this kind of handling are broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage and leaf lettuce. Other vegetables that grow best by direct seeding into the ground in mid-August are bush beans, Lima beans, beets, carrots, and cucumbers. These will take about two to two and a half months to mature from planting to harvest. Be sure to soak the seeds overnight before planting. Other vegetable seeds that may be planted anytime up until mid-September for fall harvest are green peas, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, Swiss chard, mustard, and the Oklahoma staple – turnips. Many of these will be ready to harvest in as early as 50 days, but most will take up to two months.

The best thing about the root vegetables is that many can stay in the ground through a frost. Frost will improve the flavor content for rutabagas, turnips and parsnips. Leafy vegetables such as kale, kohlrabi, collards, leaf lettuce and turnip greens can also be planted in cold frames to extend their growing season past the first frost.

The key to planting a fall vegetable garden is keeping the starter plants cool and hydrated in the late Oklahoma summer heat. Just like people, summertime livin’ can be easy for plants, with shade and a cool drink in hand during that hot part of the day.

the Creed"

New Enid High Athletic Director Scott Mansfield is no stranger to championships, most recently helping coach NOC to a national championship in 2019. But now, instead of just focusing on winning one in baseball, his goal is to win one in more than a dozen sports, and for both boys and girls. “If you aren’t chasing championships, what are you even doing this for,” Mansfield said.

Along with championships on the field (or court, or pool, or whatever venue EHS plays), Mansfield wants to graduate 100% of the athletes at Enid High and set them up for success at the next level, whatever that looks like for them. “My goal is for sports to help create good quality kids and help them reach their dreams,” Man- sfield says, “Whether it be a four-year University setting, juco or tech school, we want them to be prepared for what is next.”

According to Mansfield, he is already set up for winning. “One of the reasons this job was so attractive is because the program as a whole is already in a really good place. Our facilities are some of the best in the State, we have great partnerships with the community such as David Allen and the new Soccer Fields, and the staff here is really top-notch. My assistant athletic director, Lyndsay Watts and admin assistant Frances Fowler are really the heart of the department. They will make my job easy, and my plan is to learn from them and hope to be just a small part of our success as a team.”

When asked about the challenges of competing in 6A-1 in football, Mansfield was not intimidated. “I’m not big on comparing ourselves to others. We think we can win, and that’s what we expect to do.” That mindset translates to other sports as well. “Our numbers are up across the board, starting with Summer pride. I really like that all of our coaches are helping out and the kids get some coaching from other coaches other than their sport. We have head coaches in place for every sport but swimming at this time, and the buy-in from both the kids and the coaches is there. I am just really looking forward to attacking a new challenge every day.”

With an attitude like that, the championships are likely to come.

Biography

Scott Mansfield grew up in Dallas/Ft. Worth playing baseball. He was a pitcher for Wayland Baptist in Plainview, Texas where he received his degree. He was pitching coach at Hill Jr. College before moving to the same position at NOC- Enid in 2010. Took over as head baseball coach at NOC – Enid in 2019 and was there until taking over as EHS Athletic Director in July 2023. Married to Megan Mansfield who is a special ed teacher at Waller Middle School.

BYDALE N MCVAY