Planning polyhouse farming in Udupi? Udupi is a mid-sized city in Udupi district, Karnataka, home to about 1.7 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 310 km from Bengaluru. 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 Udupi
March is the hottest month in Udupi, with average daily highs of about 35°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 20°C.[2] The area gets about 3,355 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 922 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Udupi sits about 39 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Udupi falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[3]
Udupi climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
31.2
20.2
67
1
Feb
33.4
21.4
62
3
Mar
35.2
23.6
63
16
Apr
35.0
25.2
68
38
May
33.0
25.7
76
150
Jun
29.5
25.2
87
809
Jul
28.2
24.6
91
922
Aug
28.1
24.2
91
736
Sep
28.7
23.9
89
377
Oct
29.9
23.7
84
227
Nov
30.5
22.5
77
67
Dec
30.3
20.7
72
9
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Udupi, 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 Udupi
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for 10 months a year in Udupi, so you can supply buyers every week instead of one open-field season.
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 July's 922 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 (May to November), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Karnataka can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Udupi?
For polyhouse farming in Udupi, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Udupi the heat comes with humidity: during February to May average humidity is about 67%. Wet pads cool much less in humid air: on a typical March afternoon they would only bring 35°C down to about 31°C. So we usually start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide roof vents, insect net and a shade screen. A Fan & Pad polyhouse still makes sense if buyers need lettuce through the hottest months, but expect a smaller temperature drop than in dry inland towns.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 922 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.6 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 November to February, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Udupi
Based on Udupi's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (10 months), chilli pepper (9 months) and brinjal (9 months). Cucumber fits May to February in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and chrysanthemum 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 Udupi.
Months each crop suits in Udupi
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Jun–Dec
All year
Tomato
Jun–Dec
Jun–Apr
Cucumber
May–Feb
All year
Chilli pepper
May–Jan
All year
Brinjal
May–Jan
All year
Lettuce
Difficult
Aug–Feb
Broccoli
Difficult
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Difficult
Rose
Difficult
Dec–Feb
Gerbera
Difficult
Nov–Feb
Carnation
Difficult
Difficult
Chrysanthemum
Difficult
Dec–Feb
Anthurium
Jun–Oct
All year
Orchids
Jun–Oct
All year
Lilium
Difficult
Difficult
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.
₹8,169Spending per person per month, urban Karnataka, 2023–24[6]
310 kmto Bengaluru, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Karnataka spent an average of ₹8,169 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Udupi 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. Mangaluru, about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Udupi with Kryzen
We have built 38 projects in Karnataka so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Udupi is about 520 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Udupi
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Udupi:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Udupi: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Udupi?
Yes, with the right structure. For Udupi we would plan a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in March to July, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Udupi?
With March highs of about 35°C and 63% average humidity in that month, we would start with a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Udupi?
Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, cucumber and chilli pepper have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Udupi?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Udupi, cucumber and chilli pepper 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 Udupi?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 520 km away, and we have built 38 projects in Karnataka.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Karnataka?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Karnataka 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 Udupi 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.
