Planning polyhouse farming in Shimla? Shimla is a mid-sized city in Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh, home to about 1.7 lakh people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 280 km from Delhi. This guide works from Shimla's own monthly climate to suggest the protected structure, the crops to start with, and the months each crop is likely to do well.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Shimla
May is the hottest month in Shimla, with average daily highs of about 29°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 0°C.[3] The area gets about 1,095 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in August at about 282 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Shimla sits about 2,205 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Shimla falls in the subtropical highland with dry winters zone (Cwb).[4]
Shimla climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
9.8
-0.1
46
40
Feb
12.8
2.3
47
45
Mar
18.3
6.7
42
42
Apr
24.6
12.4
34
32
May
29.2
17.2
29
42
Jun
29.2
19.5
42
140
Jul
24.7
18.8
69
281
Aug
22.1
17.5
79
282
Sep
21.0
15.0
74
158
Oct
19.4
10.2
54
12
Nov
15.4
5.6
44
8
Dec
11.6
1.7
42
13
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Shimla, adjusted for the town's elevation[5]. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Shimla
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Shimla tomato 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 282 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.[6]
Which polyhouse suits Shimla?
For polyhouse farming in Shimla, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Shimla: average lows fall to 0°C in January, and nights stay at 8°C or below in November to March. A naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up side curtains traps daytime warmth; close the curtains at night in those months. Summer highs reach about 29°C in May, 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 282 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.5 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months.
Crops for Shimla
Based on Shimla's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are tomato (7 months), lettuce (7 months) and capsicum (6 months). Tomato fits April to October in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Shimla.
Months each crop suits in Shimla
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
Capsicum
Apr–Sep
Tomato
Apr–Oct
Cucumber
May–Sep
Chilli pepper
Apr–Sep
Brinjal
May–Sep
Lettuce
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Broccoli
Mar and Aug–Nov
Strawberry
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Rose
Apr and Jul–Oct
Gerbera
Apr and Jul–Oct
Carnation
Apr and Aug–Oct
Chrysanthemum
Apr and Jul–Oct
Anthurium
May–Aug
Orchids
May–Aug
Lilium
Aug–Oct
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[7]
280 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.[7] Shimla is large enough for steady local sales to restaurants, hotels and fruit-and-vegetable retailers. Start with a farm size that matches the orders you can confirm. Chandigarh, about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Shimla with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Himachal Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Shimla is about 1,260 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Shimla
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Shimla:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Shimla: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Shimla?
Yes, with the right structure. For Shimla we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in December to February, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Shimla?
With May highs of about 29°C and 29% 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 Shimla?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, tomato and broccoli have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Shimla?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Shimla, tomato 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 Shimla?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,260 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 Shimla 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.
