Planning polyhouse farming in Palai? Palai is a small town in Kottayam district, Kerala, home to about 22,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 380 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 Palai
March is the hottest month in Palai, with average daily highs of about 36°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 20°C.[3] The area gets about 2,230 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to November, peaking in June at about 352 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Palai sits about 31 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Palai falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[4]
Palai climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
31.3
19.8
74
15
Feb
34.5
20.7
64
26
Mar
36.1
22.8
64
59
Apr
34.6
24.3
74
125
May
31.5
24.6
84
250
Jun
29.2
24.0
89
352
Jul
28.4
23.4
91
302
Aug
28.5
23.1
91
256
Sep
29.0
23.1
89
252
Oct
29.4
22.9
89
348
Nov
29.5
22.2
87
198
Dec
29.5
20.8
83
47
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Palai, 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 Palai
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Palai cucumber can be grown for about 9 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 June's 352 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.[6]
Which polyhouse suits Palai?
For polyhouse farming in Palai, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. In Palai the heat comes with humidity: during February to April average humidity is about 67%. Wet pads cool much less in humid air: on a typical March afternoon they would only bring 36°C down to about 32°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 352 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 Palai
Based on Palai's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (9 months), chilli pepper (9 months) and brinjal (9 months). Cucumber fits May 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 Palai.
Months each crop suits in Palai
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Jun–Dec
All year
Tomato
Jun–Dec
All year
Cucumber
May–Jan
All year
Chilli pepper
May–Jan
All year
Brinjal
May–Jan
All year
Lettuce
Difficult
Jun–Jan
Broccoli
Difficult
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Difficult
Rose
Difficult
Dec–Jan
Gerbera
Difficult
Jul–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[7]
380 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.[7] Local demand in Palai may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes.
Polyhouse farming in Palai with Kryzen
Palai is about 960 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Palai
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Palai:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Palai: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Palai?
Yes, with the right structure. For Palai we would plan a tall naturally ventilated polyhouse with wide vents and insect net. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in February to May, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Palai?
With March highs of about 36°C and 64% 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 Palai?
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 Palai?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Palai, 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 Palai?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 960 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 Palai 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.
