Planning polyhouse farming in Mandi? Mandi is a small town in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, home to about 26,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 350 km from Delhi. We have used the monthly climate for Mandi to plan a structure, a growing system and a crop calendar, so you can compare them with your own plot and buyers.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Mandi
June is the hottest month in Mandi, with average daily highs of about 37°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 6°C.[2] The area gets about 1,124 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in August at about 289 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Mandi sits about 756 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Mandi falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[3]
Mandi climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
17.7
5.9
46
44
Feb
20.5
7.8
48
52
Mar
25.6
11.9
45
49
Apr
31.5
17.1
39
36
May
36.3
21.5
33
42
Jun
36.5
23.9
45
137
Jul
32.4
23.7
72
282
Aug
30.0
22.7
81
289
Sep
28.9
20.5
74
156
Oct
27.2
15.8
54
12
Nov
23.5
11.6
43
10
Dec
19.8
7.9
40
15
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Mandi, adjusted for the town's elevation[4]. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Mandi
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Mandi chilli pepper can be grown for about 7 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.
2
Better yield and price
Plants grow without rain, hail and wind damage, so yields are higher and more even, and clean, graded produce sells at a better price, especially off-season.
3
Less water
Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps August's 289 mm of rain off the crop and the soil.
4
Less pesticides
Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, and controlled ventilation helps with leaf disease in the humid months (August), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Himachal Pradesh can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Mandi?
For polyhouse farming in Mandi, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Mandi: average lows fall to 6°C in January, and nights stay at 8°C or below in December to February. A naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up side curtains traps daytime warmth; close the curtains at night in those months. Summer highs reach about 37°C in June, so roof vents and a shade screen are enough. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely worth its running cost here.
Plan for heavy rain in August (about 289 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.1 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months. A nethouse, the lowest-cost option, can grow hardy crops in March to April and October, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Mandi
Based on Mandi's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are chilli pepper (7 months), lettuce (6 months) and capsicum (5 months). Chilli pepper fits March to April and July to November in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Mandi.
Months each crop suits in Mandi
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Mar and Aug–Nov
Mar–Nov
Tomato
Mar and Aug–Nov
Mar–Nov
Cucumber
Apr and Jul–Oct
Apr–Oct
Chilli pepper
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Mar–Nov
Brinjal
Apr and Jul–Oct
Apr–Oct
Lettuce
Oct–Mar
All year
Broccoli
Nov–Feb
Oct–Apr
Strawberry
Nov–Feb
Nov–Mar
Rose
Mar and Oct–Nov
Mar–May and Sep–Nov
Gerbera
Mar and Oct–Nov
Mar–May and Aug–Nov
Carnation
Feb and Nov–Dec
Feb–Apr and Oct–Dec
Chrysanthemum
Mar and Oct–Nov
Mar–May and Sep–Nov
Anthurium
Aug–Oct
Apr–Oct
Orchids
Aug–Oct
Apr–Oct
Lilium
Feb and Nov–Dec
Feb–Apr and Oct–Dec
Kryzen planning estimate from the monthly averages above and each crop's usual day and night temperature range. Variety, soil or substrate temperature and shading change the result, so confirm with a trial.
₹9,230Spending per person per month, urban Himachal Pradesh, 2023–24[6]
350 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Himachal Pradesh spent an average of ₹9,230 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Mandi may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Shimla, about 70 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Mandi with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Himachal Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Mandi is about 1,330 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Mandi
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Mandi:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Mandi: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Mandi?
Yes, with the right structure. For Mandi we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights.
Which polyhouse is best for Mandi?
With June highs of about 37°C and 45% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Mandi?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, capsicum and tomato have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Mandi?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Mandi, chilli pepper and lettuce have the longest seasons under cover. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers first; our Detailed Project Report works out the cost, yield and returns for your plot.
Does Kryzen build polyhouses in Mandi?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,330 km away, and we have built 2 projects in Himachal Pradesh.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Himachal Pradesh?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Himachal Pradesh can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department. Check the current rate and area limit when you apply.
Discuss your Mandi farm project
Share your plot location, water test and crop targets. We will suggest the right structure and growing system, and send an itemised quotation.
A computer engineer turned hydroponic farmer from a multigenerational farming family in Satara. Sudhir founded Kryzen in 2019, and the team has since built 350+ protected and hydroponic farms across India.
