dj: I spend a lot of time in the greenhouse just because I want to not because things really need doing. But the greenhouse is no more labor intensive than the rest of my garden and orchard. There are no weeds and little spraying inside. Watering is less than outside and the only daily chore inside is watering pots. The pots are optional. So total time is an hour or two a day on average. But there is a steep learning curve compared to outside. I'm still learning going into my 7th crop. For instance I now think that the unusually long growing season is causing flower bud abortion and fruit set issues not only on sweet cherry but on other stone fruit. In a cooler climate or with adjustments in temperature, this wouldn't I think be an issue. In this climate my greenhouse is so efficient that all chilling can be gotten in 14 to 45 days,depending on cultivar, anytime from Nov 1 until Febr 1. The rest of the year can be 95% of days in 80s and 90s if desired. I'm learning that I need to back off on that and go for about 90 days chilling and a shorter cooler summer. 10.5 months warm weather is too long for some things. But It's just so nice to have control of so many more elements than outside. I'm going to be fighting a freeze outside tonight. Most years I'm eating tree ripened apricot and blueberry before the last freeze outside.

I've been hoping for some clarification on the pros and cons of leaving Aluminet shadecloth in place during the winter. I have read in this forum that it's best to remove it for the winter, but I've been confused by this website, which says that one of the benefits of Aluminet is it works as a thermal blanket, reflecting "invisible heat radiation" back into the greenhouse at night, helping to maintain warmer temperatures. I notice that this page does not mention either summer or winter, which has added to my confusion. I've read that Aluminet is most efficient at reducing summer heat gain when used on the outside of the greenhouse, but I have mine installed inside, hanging a few inches below the roof. (My thought was, if this works passably well for me, I won't have to battle keeping it attached to the outside during our wicked winds.) As an aside, I have in fact kept mine up all winter, but I think I must have an odd situation that would not apply to the original poster. My problem here in the desert is too much light and too much heat, even on sunny winter days; without the shadecloth I'd definately have scorching even in winter. In fact, I thought 40% would be enough for me since I grow succulents requiring bright light. I know now that in my bright and hot climate I should have ordered at least 50%. Anyway, I thought I'd mention that website link above. I don't know that Shad has read that website, but it has definately had me a bit muddled as I tried to understand the winter/summer issue with Aluminet. Sheri

Well, I have the home-attached curved eave. right now I have eye bolts at the top beam of the greenhouse. I threaded the rope through the eye-holes on the shade cloth and then secure it to the top of the greenhouse by passing the rope through the eye bolts on the top beam. Then I simply secure the shade cloth bottom w/ bricks attached to the rope. So, right now the shade cloth is resting on the greenhouse. I think that next spring I will buy pvc tubing (or some long, thin wood) and will put that the entire length of the greenhouse, where the bend is, where the shade cloth seems to rub most on the poly. The metal ribs of the greenhouse will hold the pvc above the poly. and this in turn will hold the shade cloth out above the polycarbonate. I think I will hold the shade cloth on the pvc tubing by drilling a hole in the pvc and then zip-tying the cloth on the pipe through the hole. Or maybe if I find some long, thin, wood molding I will use that. I assume the pvc pipe would be better, as it is wider and would hold the shade cloth up higher. I may decide to put pvc pipes on the top, middle and end of the shade to hold it above the entire greenhouse, although the top portion of the shade, doesn't really touch the greenhouse now. I would still have rope holding the shade cloth down but it would at least be suspended above the polycarbonate and I think this would work. My shade cloth is a little thinner than my greenhouse because my greenhouse is actually 8ft6in and the finished aluminet shades only seem to come in exact feet, so my shade is only 8 feet wide.

The answer to both is yes, you will need shade cloth. The one in CA "might" need it year round and grandmascuttings will be able to remove it for part of the year. Brooke