• Start with a brief introduction to greenhouse design and its importance in creating an optimal growing environment.
• Mention the benefits of designing a greenhouse tailored to your specific needs and the plants you intend to grow.

1. Assessing Your Needs:

• Discuss the importance of evaluating your goals and requirements before starting the design process.
• Consider factors such as the types of plants, the size of the greenhouse, available space, and budget constraints.

2. Choosing the Location:

• Highlight the significance of selecting the right location for your greenhouse.
• Discuss the ideal orientation for maximizing sunlight exposure and minimizing shading.
• Consider proximity to utilities, accessibility, and potential obstacles like trees or buildings.

3. Selecting the Greenhouse Structure:

• Discuss the different types of greenhouse structures available, such as hoop houses, gable-roofed, or even custom designs.
• Highlight the pros and cons of each structure and their suitability for different climates and purposes.
• Mention considerations like material durability, insulation, and ease of maintenance.

4. Ventilation and Air Circulation:

• Explain the importance of proper ventilation in a greenhouse.
• Discuss different ventilation options such as ridge vents, side vents, and fans.
• Emphasize the need for air circulation to prevent stagnant air and potential issues like mold or disease.

5. Temperature and Climate Control:

• Discuss strategies for controlling the temperature inside the greenhouse.
• Mention options like heaters, cooling systems, shade cloths, and insulation.
• Highlight the importance of monitoring and maintaining consistent temperature levels for optimal plant growth.

6. Irrigation and Water Management:

• Discuss various irrigation systems suitable for greenhouse gardening, such as drip irrigation or misting systems.
• Explain the importance of proper drainage to prevent waterlogging.
• Mention the use of water-saving techniques and the importance of monitoring soil moisture levels.

7. Lighting Considerations:

• Discuss the role of lighting in greenhouse design, especially for supplemental or artificial lighting.
• Explain the different types of grow lights available and their suitability for various plants.
• Mention the importance of providing the right light spectrum and duration for different growth stages.

8. Automation and Technology:

• Highlight the benefits of incorporating automation and technology into greenhouse design.
• Discuss options like environmental control systems, remote monitoring, and automated irrigation.
• Mention potential cost considerations and the long-term benefits of such investments.

The best natural wood for greenhouses depends on several factors, such as climate, budget, and personal preferences. However, there are several wood species that are commonly used for building greenhouses, as due to their natural resistance to decay and insects, as well as their durability and appearance.
Cedar: Cedar is a popular choice for greenhouses because of its natural resistance to decay and insects. It is also lightweight, easy to work with, and has a beautiful natural color.
Redwood: Redwood is another durable and insect-resistant option for greenhouses. It has a beautiful color and is naturally rot-resistant, making it a good choice for humid or wet environments.
Cypress: Cypress is a strong and durable wood that is resistant to rot and insects. It is also more affordable than cedar or redwood and is a sustainable choice.
Douglas fir: Douglas fir is a strong and durable softwood that is often used for outdoor construction. It is more affordable than some of the other options and has a natural resistance to decay and insects.

Ultimately, the best natural wood for your greenhouse will depend on your individual needs and preferences. It is important to choose a wood species that is resistant to decay and insects, as well as one that can withstand the climate in your area.

Also, Please make sure to choose wood that is sustainably sourced and harvested to reduce the environmental impact of your greenhouse construction project.

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Glass Greenhouse Structure for Wedding Venues – Gothic Arch Greenhouses

Benefits of Glass Wedding Venues / Greenhouses: Glass wedding venues and greenhouses provide a unique setting for a wedding ceremony or reception, allowing couples to exchange vows surrounded by natural beauty and under the sun’s warmth. The glass walls and ceilings provide a feeling of openness and lightness, creating an ethereal romantic and magical atmosphere. Additionally, glass wedding venues and greenhouses often have beautiful and well-manicured gardens or landscapes surrounding them, providing a picturesque backdrop for wedding photos.

Considerations when choosing a Glass Wedding Venue / Greenhouse: When choosing a glass wedding venue or greenhouse, there are several factors to consider, such as the size of the venue, the location, the amenities available, and the cost. It’s important to choose a venue that can comfortably accommodate your guests and fits your wedding theme and style. Additionally, it’s essential to consider the climate and weather conditions, as glass venues may become uncomfortably hot during the summer months or chilly during the winter.

Decoration Ideas: Glass wedding venues and greenhouses provide a stunning backdrop for a variety of wedding themes and decorations. Popular decoration ideas for glass wedding venues and greenhouses include hanging floral arrangements, draped fabrics, string lights, and greenery accents. Consider incorporating the surrounding natural elements into your wedding decor, such as using seasonal flowers or foliage to complement the lush surroundings.

Eco-Friendly Option: Glass wedding venues and greenhouses can be an eco-friendly option for couples who are conscious of their carbon footprint. The transparent design of the venue allows natural light to flow in, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Additionally, some glass venues and greenhouses use sustainable building materials or implement renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Glass greenhouses offer gardeners an ideal balance of light transmission, insulation properties, and durability. Constructed from premium-grade glass, these structures provide superior control over climate and humidity levels, making them the perfect choice for various plants.

With an advanced design, these greenhouses allow maximum natural light to enter while also providing ample protection from extreme temperatures and the elements, making them ideal for growing all year round

They come in various shapes and sizes, allowing homeowners to customize their space and make the most of their garden area. Glass greenhouses are perfect for those who want to extend the growing season, increase yields, and have complete control over their health.

This month, and in the following months, we’ll be exploring various greenhouse coverings or glazing.  Last month we provided a broad overview of each type.  Knowing the benefits and details of each will help you decide which choice is the best for your greenhouse in terms of aesthetics, value, and budget.  Each glazing type offers various benefits according to function and longevity, but glass is superior to all with its lifespan and beauty.  With that in mind, let’s explore the appeal of glass.

Glass greenhouses are charming, and luxurious, and provide an excellent growing environment.  The clarity of glass creates the feeling of being outdoors, making glass greenhouses the iconic choice for many.  Because glass provides so many advantages in greenhouse growing, it is not only attractive but practical and useful.  Glass is an optimal choice for not only residential customers, but also research facilities and commercial production houses.  Glass greenhouses set a precedence for all other greenhouses!  Not many would dispute their allure and elegance, but let’s take a look at the incredible benefits of a glass greenhouse.

Advantages of Using Glass:

Glass transmits almost 100% light and will maintain that clarity for a lifetime, compared to 80% light transmission with double-wall polycarbonate.  Glass allows the most sunlight to enter a greenhouse, providing the highest amount of natural light for maximum potential photosynthesis and year-round gardening.

• Due to the weight of glass, greenhouse structural framing is generally stronger than other greenhouses.
• You can choose from several glass options to improve insulation and help with solar heat gain, providing better crop protection and using less energy.
• Glass can function for 40-50 years without failure.  It is non-combustible, resistant to UV radiation and air pollutant degradation, and maintains its initial radiation transmission if cleaned regularly.
• Although glass is more costly initially, you will save long-term money by lessening your dependence on supplemental lighting.
• Glass is vulnerable to catastrophic losses such as hail and other weather extremes, but individual panes are easily and inexpensively replaced.

Glass Types:

• Single-layered glass is treated for safety and durability
• Double glass has additional insulation with two panes of safety glass pocketing a thin air barrier.  This barrier reduces solar heat gain and also aids in preventing heat loss and condensation in winter.
• Low E or low emissive glass is further coated to reduce both heat and cold transfer, as well as radiation. The coating reflects heat inside during the winter and away from the structure in the summer.
• Diffused Glass is a newer technology that has proven to benefit crops.  It helps regulate light and temperature, creating a stable greenhouse environment.  Although it is a more expensive option, the production benefits may balance the initial cost expenditure.

Glass is a fantastic choice for greenhouses, but it is also used for pool enclosures, spa enclosures, conservatories, solariums, sunrooms, and even skylights.  Gothic Arch Greenhouses can help you with each of these choices.  We offer our glass greenhouses in many styles such as Victorian, English Cottage, Grand Hideaway, American Classic, Commercial, AC Garden, and Cape Cod.  We also provide greenhouse accessories and supplies to suit every horticultural need.

Gothic Arch Greenhouses has invested time in selecting the finest glass greenhouse lines for all price ranges, architectural styles, and horticultural applications.  We have been serving growers since 1946, and we bring years of expertise in recommending a top-quality glass greenhouse for any application.  If you want a beautiful, permanent, and valuable greenhouse that will bring you a lifetime of joy, a glass greenhouse is the best choice for you.  Call Gothic Arch Greenhouses’ team of specialists today at 1-800-531-4769 for expert advice on selecting the right luxury glass greenhouse, sunroom, solarium, sunroom kit, conservatory, swimming pool enclosure, and custom-designed greenhouse enclosures for your home, business, or facility.

August 2022

Summer may be coming to a close as cooler temperatures seem like a promising relief for many parts of the country.  But one thing remains along with the oppressive heat…bugs!  For many of us, insects don’t disappear as fall approaches.  Annoying critters can destroy our bountiful produce, beautiful blooms, and lush foliage.  Growing concerns over the use of pesticides dictate demand for a cleaner, more organic option.  The proven answer is insect screens, and no modern greenhouse should be installed without the proper insect barrier.

Insect screens are strong, UV stabilized, lightweight, easy to install, transparent, and easy to clean, making them the perfect choice for today’s greenhouse.  Correctly installed, they prevent insect penetration while still providing maximum possible airflow.  Screening your intake vents will produce dramatic results, but ALL greenhouse openings should also be screened. 

Now let’s talk about screen varieties and how to choose!  Anti-insect screen choices are differentiated by hole size or mesh size. Hole size accuracy and strong UV-resistant yarns will ensure the highest quality products from your greenhouse.   You should choose mesh size according to the insects prevalent in your area.  You want to target your mesh size according to the smallest pesky insect.  The higher the mesh percentage, the smaller the insect that is prevented from entering your greenhouse.  An added bonus with insect screens is some degree of shading.  The highest mesh percentages available can provide as much as 50% shade. 

Here is a handy chart that shows the size of some of the most common insects:

Next, let’s take a look at the different mesh varieties that Gothic Arch Greenhouses provide:

Mesh 17 Protection Net

Technical Details

Maximum width (m) 5

For protection against fruit flies (Mediterranean fruit fly, fig fruit fly, olive fruit fly), grape moth, Prudencia, and Pomegranate fruit butterfly in orchards and vineyards. This net provides protection against climatic conditions such as hail, wind, and solar radiation excess, thus optimizing yield and fruit quality.

The net is made of strong monofilaments manufactured with special UV-resistant materials, giving the net durability and longevity. It has strong tucked edges and is flexible, light, and easy to spread.

Mesh 25 Protection Net – Improves Fruit Quality

Technical Details

Blocks penetration of fruit flies, birds, and bats into the crop environment.
The net significantly improves fruit quality by filtering out damaging sunrays and by preventing sunburn. It completely blocks hail impact, protecting crops from frost and breakage. It acts as a windbreak, creating a calm microclimate

and contributing to higher yields.

The net is made of monofilaments that are manufactured with special UV-resistant materials, giving the net durability and longevity. It has strong tucked selvages and is flexible, light, and easy to spread.

Mesh 40 Anti Insect Net for Shade Houses and Nurseries

Technical Details

UV resistance (years): 5
Maximum width (m): 5
Max. roll run (m): 300

To be used in the cultivation of flowers and vegetables in shade houses and nurseries.

The net is made of monofilaments that are manufactured with special UV-resistant materials, giving the net durability and longevity. It has strong tucked selvages and is flexible, light, and easy to spread.

Mesh 50 Anti-insect net – blocks penetration of insects

Technical Details

UV resistance (years): 5
Maximum width (m): 5
Max. roll run (m): 200

Blocks penetration of insects and protects against pests, such as tobacco Whitefly (Bemisia-tabaci), Leaf miner, Aphids, and Thrips.

To be used in the cultivation of flowers and vegetables in shade houses and nurseries.

The net is made of monofilaments that are manufactured with special UV-resistant materials, giving the net durability and longevity. it has strong tucked selvages and is flexible, light, and easy to spread.

Mesh 50 Anti-insect Grey Net

Technical Details

Maximum width (m): 5

For blocking whiteflies, aphids, leafminers, and other tiny insects’ entrance into the crop environment; widely used in vegetables, herbs, flowers, and nurseries that require reduction of solar radiation.

The net is made of strong monofilaments manufactured with special UV-resistant materials, giving the net durability and longevity. It has strong tucked edges and is flexible, light, and easy to spread.

Mesh 75 Protection Net

Technical Details
UV resistance (years): 5
Maximum width (m): 3
Color: Transparent

OptiNet 40 and 50 Mesh Dual Protection from Insect Penetration

Technical Details

Mesh shade 40: 44-46%
Mesh shade 50: 50-52%
UV resistance (years): 5

Fewer pesticides are needed to significantly reduce the number of insects entering the greenhouse structure.  Dual protection significantly reduces the number of pests entering the structure, while maintaining adequate airflow and reducing costs.

OptiNet blocks penetration of insects in two ways:

• Optic protection: Insects are repelled by the screen’s optical additives.
• Physical protection: The fine 40 or 50 mesh screen provides a second line of protection

Who knew insect screening could provide not only insect resistance; but also shading and some protection from the elements, all while maintaining adequate airflow?  All these features help reduce costs for production in your greenhouse, giving you the most for your greenhouse investment.  Now that you know the details, track down the worst pesky offender in your area, and install some screening in your existing greenhouse, or let us know which mesh is best for your future greenhouse needs!

In terms of sustainable safe food production, organic matter is a prominent valuable nutrient source for both plants and living organisms. Organic matter is a primary source of carbon (C) which gives energy and nutrients to soil organisms.   

Improvement of soil structure is realized as organic matter causes soil to clump and form soil aggregates contributing to better soil permeability thus improving the soil’s ability to take up and hold water which aids in minimizing soil erosion.          

This organic matter and high carbon content support soil functionality because it improve the activity of microorganisms in the soil and can enhance biodiversity. The primary essential nutrients for optimum production of the vegetable crops are typical, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and potassium. Secondary nutrients are those usually needed in moderate amounts compared to the primary essential nutrients. The secondary Nutrients can be divided into two categories: macronutrients and micronutrients. The six elements normally classified as macronutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). The plant roots mainly take up these nutrients in ionic for

In the recent past, progressive farmers have used various natural methods to develop safer means of growing  ‘organic’ certified vegetables using ‘no-till’ crop rotation, inner-planting methods, and cover crops to name just a few. These practices ensure the maximum organic matter remains in the soil resulting in enhanced beneficial microbial and bacterial health of a ‘living’ soil, rather than having a barren dead soil due to chemical fertilizers’ deadly impact on the beneficial microbes and bacterium of living soil.

The Achille’s heal of today’s dependency on petroleum-based fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides is the vulnerability of the supply chain and the flow of oil.

Best we soon adopt organic agriculture best management practices on a broad basis before conventional chemical fertilizers are so costly that we are forced to pay the price of not being able to produce enough food to feed our ever-expanding population.

Who’s ready for some winter gardening? As cooler temperatures approach, many growers aim to just keep their plants alive through harsher conditions. However, with some careful planning, some energy-saving tactics, and a few products you may already have on hand, you can have a thriving winter greenhouse this year!

Many gardeners are now packing away their shade cloth until warmer weather is near. Letting every last bit of the weakening sunshine into their greenhouse or winter garden is foremost in most growers’ minds, so why keep your shade cloth in place? Depending on what type of shade cloth you have, it can act as a thermal heat curtain in winter. That’s a big plus when it comes to keeping valuable heat inside your growing space!

Aluminet shade cloth is excellent at keeping the heat that your greenhouse has collected from the sun during the daytime inside at night. Hung inside your greenhouse, the aluminum filament preserves heat, and can increase the efficiency of your heater by up to 30%! Many growers will open or remove the shade during sunny days, then close it during the night. This method makes the most of the available sunlight during the day and helps to trap the heat inside when the evening comes.

Aluminet is also successful in reflecting back the invisible heat radiation given off by plants and the greenhouse floor. This heat energy gathers during the day and releases at night in all objects. Traditional black or colored shade cloth can also slow this heat loss but is not as effective as Aluminet in reflecting this heat back to the leaves of the plant.

Shorter days and less light may mean that you want to add supplemental lighting to your greenhouse. If you don’t already have growing lamps, special consideration for winter is heat output. LED lighting, while very cost-effective to operate, can be expensive to invest in and produces very little heat. During winter, metal halide (MH), high-intensity fluorescent (HIF), and high-pressure sodium (HPS) are good choices, due to the heat they produce, as well as the low cost to implement. You can read more about how to choose the best greenhouse lighting here:

Shedding “Light” on Grow Lighting

Aluminet is also helpful in increasing the benefits of your lighting. The twisted woven strands of Aluminet reflect diffused light back in many directions from the source. This diffusion and reflection promote more vigorous growth in the lower branches, less stress on the leaves, and more even light distribution.

Your supplemental lighting and heating can also be more effectively used in your greenhouse with the addition of a specialized heat-retention curtain. A closed fabric for efficient heat retention, made from woven Polyethylene and Aluminum strips, can be an excellent investment to winterize your greenhouse. In addition to moderating daytime and nighttime temperatures, these curtains reduce shadows, control air movement, and cold spots, and add optimum light diffusion to your indoor crops. Call our experts today for a quote on this new and innovative item!

A natural way to lower your heating costs is by storing heat. Make use of planters filled with soil or even large closed containers of water. Both options store heat, providing you with even more ways to seal in warmer temperatures inside your greenhouse. Moving raised beds inside is a great way to both grow to store your warmth all through the coldest part of the year. It’s a great time to switch to winter-specific crops, which have less sunlight requirement! We have several blogs regarding winter crops, which you can read here: https://www.gothicarchgreenhouses.com/blog/2020-year-round-growing-guide/

Year-Round Growing Guide, January

Year-round Growing Guide, January Week 2

Grow Carrots in Winter

Year-Round Growing- Potatoes- February Planting Guide

Now is the time to do yearly maintenance checks on your greenhouse heater. Test your heater and thermostat, and try giving it a test run before you have to rely on it. Perform any needed maintenance and even stock up on key parts that may be needed. As part of your testing, check the accuracy of your thermostat to ensure all systems are functioning properly.

If you’ve not yet chosen a heater for your growing space, you’ll want to consider if electric, natural gas, or propane is the best option for you, as well as if your plants require a vented or non-vented heater option. If you need some guidance on this aspect of winterization, please call our offices! We are happy to help find the best option for your growing situation.

Last, our final winterizing recommendation is to always remember that investments you make today in the future of your garden can have results for many, many growing seasons to come. For some ideas on what to do today to ensure gardening success tomorrow, check out our blog from last year!

What to do right now for a better garden tomorrow

Thanks for reading today—we’ve had a long absence from posting, due to the many strains that 2020 and 2021 have brought. We’re pleased to be looking towards the future, and from all of us at Gothic Arch Greenhouses, HAPPY GROWING!