Planning polyhouse farming in Kollam? Kollam is a large city in Kollam district, Kerala, home to about 4 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 470 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 Kollam
March is the hottest month in Kollam, with average daily highs of about 35°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 21°C.[2] The area gets about 2,052 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to November, peaking in October at about 327 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in April to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Kollam sits about 3 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Kollam falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[3]
Kollam climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
31.2
20.6
73
15
Feb
34.1
21.7
64
25
Mar
35.3
23.8
65
60
Apr
33.4
25.1
75
130
May
30.9
25.4
83
233
Jun
29.0
24.6
89
302
Jul
28.2
23.9
90
244
Aug
28.3
23.7
90
210
Sep
28.7
23.6
89
233
Oct
29.0
23.5
88
327
Nov
29.0
22.9
86
218
Dec
29.2
21.4
83
55
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Kollam, 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 Kollam
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for 10 months a year in Kollam, 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 October's 327 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 (April 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.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Kollam?
For polyhouse farming in Kollam, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Kollam the heat comes with humidity: during February to April average humidity is about 68%. 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 October (about 327 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in March at about 6.4 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months.
Crops for Kollam
Based on Kollam's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (10 months), chilli pepper (9 months) and brinjal (9 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 Kollam.
Months each crop suits in Kollam
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
May–Jan
All year
Brinjal
May–Jan
All year
Lettuce
Difficult
Jul–Jan
Broccoli
Difficult
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Difficult
Rose
Difficult
Dec–Jan
Gerbera
Difficult
Oct–Jan
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[6]
470 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.[6] Kollam 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.
Polyhouse farming in Kollam with Kryzen
Kollam is about 1,050 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Kollam
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Kollam:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Kollam: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Kollam?
Yes, with the right structure. For Kollam we would plan a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in February to June, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Kollam?
With March highs of about 35°C and 65% 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 Kollam?
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 Kollam?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Kollam, 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 Kollam?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 1,050 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 Kollam 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.
