Planning polyhouse farming in Sundarnagar? Sundarnagar is a small town in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, home to about 25,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 330 km from Delhi. Below we use the town's monthly temperatures, humidity and rainfall to work out which structure fits, which crops to grow and in which months, before you spend on construction.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Sundarnagar
June is the hottest month in Sundarnagar, with average daily highs of about 36°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 5°C.[3] 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. Sundarnagar sits about 861 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Sundarnagar falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[4]
Sundarnagar climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
16.9
5.3
46
44
Feb
19.6
7.2
48
52
Mar
24.7
11.3
45
49
Apr
30.7
16.5
39
36
May
35.4
20.9
33
42
Jun
35.6
23.3
45
137
Jul
31.6
23.1
72
282
Aug
29.1
22.1
81
289
Sep
28.0
19.9
74
156
Oct
26.3
15.2
54
12
Nov
22.6
11.0
43
10
Dec
19.0
7.3
40
15
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Sundarnagar, 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 Sundarnagar
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Sundarnagar lettuce 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.[6]
Which polyhouse suits Sundarnagar?
For polyhouse farming in Sundarnagar, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Sundarnagar: average lows fall to 5°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 36°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 Sundarnagar
Based on Sundarnagar's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (7 months), tomato (6 months) and cucumber (5 months). Lettuce fits September to March in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and orchids are hard to time here, so we would leave them out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Sundarnagar.
Months each crop suits in Sundarnagar
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Apr and Aug–Oct
Apr–Oct
Tomato
Mar–Apr and Aug–Nov
Mar–Nov
Cucumber
Apr and Jul–Oct
Apr–Oct
Chilli pepper
Apr and Jul–Oct
Apr–Oct
Brinjal
Apr and Jul–Oct
Apr–Oct
Lettuce
Sep–Mar
All year
Broccoli
Nov–Feb
Oct–Apr
Strawberry
Nov–Mar
Oct–Mar
Rose
Mar and Sep–Nov
Mar–May and Sep–Nov
Gerbera
Mar and Sep–Nov
Mar–Nov
Carnation
Mar and Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
Chrysanthemum
Mar and Sep–Nov
Mar–May and Sep–Nov
Anthurium
Aug–Sep
Apr–Sep
Orchids
Aug–Sep
Apr–Sep
Lilium
Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
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]
330 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] Local demand in Sundarnagar may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Shimla, about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Sundarnagar with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Himachal Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Sundarnagar is about 1,310 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Sundarnagar
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Sundarnagar:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Sundarnagar: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Sundarnagar?
Yes, with the right structure. For Sundarnagar we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights.
Which polyhouse is best for Sundarnagar?
With June highs of about 36°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 Sundarnagar?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, tomato and gerbera have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Sundarnagar?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Sundarnagar, lettuce and tomato 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 Sundarnagar?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,310 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 Sundarnagar 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.
