Planning polyhouse farming in Chalakudy? Chalakudy is a town in Thrissur district, Kerala[1], about 330 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 Chalakudy
March is the hottest month in Chalakudy, with average daily highs of about 35°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 21°C.[2] The area gets about 2,277 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to November, peaking in June at about 439 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Chalakudy sits about 42 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Chalakudy falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[3]
Chalakudy climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
32.5
21.1
64
9
Feb
34.4
22.6
58
18
Mar
34.9
24.5
63
42
Apr
33.0
25.4
74
103
May
30.6
25.5
82
228
Jun
28.4
24.6
88
439
Jul
27.4
23.9
91
403
Aug
27.5
23.5
91
315
Sep
27.9
23.5
89
248
Oct
28.5
23.6
86
295
Nov
29.1
22.9
82
147
Dec
30.0
21.4
75
30
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Chalakudy. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Chalakudy
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for 10 months a year in Chalakudy, 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 June's 439 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 December), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Kerala can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]
Which polyhouse suits Chalakudy?
For polyhouse farming in Chalakudy, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Chalakudy the heat comes with humidity: during February to April average humidity is about 65%. 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 June (about 439 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Crops for Chalakudy
Based on Chalakudy's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (10 months), chilli pepper (10 months) and brinjal (10 months). Cucumber fits April to January 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 Chalakudy.
Months each crop suits in Chalakudy
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
May–Dec
All year
Tomato
May–Dec
All year
Cucumber
Apr–Jan
All year
Chilli pepper
Apr–Jan
All year
Brinjal
Apr–Jan
All year
Lettuce
Jul–Sep
Jul–Feb
Broccoli
Difficult
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Difficult
Rose
Difficult
Dec–Jan
Gerbera
Aug–Sep
Nov–Feb and Aug–Sep
Carnation
Difficult
Difficult
Chrysanthemum
Difficult
Dec–Jan
Anthurium
Jun–Dec
All year
Orchids
Jun–Dec
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.
₹7,834Spending per person per month, urban Kerala, 2023–24[5]
330 kmto Bengaluru, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Kerala spent an average of ₹7,834 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] Local demand in Chalakudy may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Thrissur, about 30 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Chalakudy with Kryzen
Chalakudy is about 890 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Chalakudy
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Chalakudy:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Chalakudy: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Chalakudy?
Yes, with the right structure. For Chalakudy we would plan a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in March to June, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Chalakudy?
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 Chalakudy?
Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, tomato and cucumber have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Chalakudy?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Chalakudy, 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 Chalakudy?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 890 km away.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Kerala?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Kerala 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 Chalakudy 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.
