What Do Cucumbers and Window Glass Have to Do with Each Other?

Posted: Mar 18, 2013
Author: G&S Contracting, Inc.

Little know until a few decades ago, hothouse or “English” cucumbers have grown in popularity to the point where they now can be found on the shelves in grocery stores and supermarkets all over the world.  These cucumbers are usually grown in hothouses (also called greenhouses) as the heat and humidity changes the structure of the fruit, especially leading to a thinner and softer skin - unlike the usually inedible skin of other varieties. They also have very few seeds or are completely seedless, and as a result, are easier to digest.

The hot, humid conditions are usually created by growing the cucumbers inside a glassed structure – typically made from ordinary window glass. Un-insulated glass has the effect of allowing solar energy to pass into the structure but not to escape – leading to significantly higher temperatures inside the greenhouse than outside. If there is a fair amount of moisture present, the inside of the hothouse will also become very humid, mimicking tropical conditions.

For a simple illustration of how this works, think of what happens when you leave a car in the hot sun with the windows closed.

Another way this effect that glass has on temperature is used is for making sunrooms. These rooms are often added to the outside of a house – sometimes using an existing porch or patio as a base structure. Typically the structure is mostly composed of ordinary window glass. Sunrooms are especially popular in areas with cold winters, as they create an area in the home that is usually very warm and comfortable.