Planning polyhouse farming in Palakkad? Palakkad is a mid-sized city in Palakkad district, Kerala, home to about 1.3 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 270 km from Bengaluru. We have used the monthly climate for Palakkad to plan a structure, a growing system and a crop calendar, so you can compare them with your own plot and buyers.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Palakkad
March is the hottest month in Palakkad, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 18°C.[2] The area gets about 1,142 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to November, peaking in October at about 192 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Palakkad sits about 89 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Palakkad falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Palakkad climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
32.4
18.0
67
6
Feb
35.7
19.5
56
9
Mar
37.9
22.3
53
30
Apr
37.4
24.2
63
60
May
34.0
24.0
76
118
Jun
30.9
23.0
83
162
Jul
30.0
22.5
85
157
Aug
30.1
22.2
85
136
Sep
30.7
22.1
85
126
Oct
30.6
22.0
85
192
Nov
29.8
20.7
84
118
Dec
30.2
18.7
79
28
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Palakkad, 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 Palakkad
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Palakkad, 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 192 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.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Palakkad?
For polyhouse farming in Palakkad, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in February to May, with moderate humidity of about 62%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°C March afternoon down to roughly 32°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. Capsicum, cucumber and tomato do well in a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen. If you want one structure, decide by crop: greens all year point to Fan & Pad; vine crops point to a naturally ventilated house.
Based on Palakkad's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), tomato (all year) and cucumber (all year). Capsicum fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. Lilium and carnation 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 Palakkad.
Months each crop suits in Palakkad
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
Jun–Jan
All year
Brinjal
Jun–Jan
All year
Lettuce
Difficult
Jun–Jan
Broccoli
Difficult
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Difficult
Rose
Difficult
Nov–Jan
Gerbera
Difficult
Jun–Jan
Carnation
Difficult
Difficult
Chrysanthemum
Difficult
Nov–Jan
Anthurium
Jul and Nov
May–Mar
Orchids
Jul and Nov
May–Mar
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]
270 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] Local demand in Palakkad may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Coimbatore, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Palakkad with Kryzen
Palakkad is about 850 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Palakkad
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Palakkad:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Palakkad: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Palakkad?
Yes, with the right structure. For Palakkad we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in February to May, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Palakkad?
With March highs of about 38°C and 53% average humidity in that month, we would start with Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Palakkad?
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 Palakkad?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Palakkad, capsicum 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 Palakkad?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 850 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 Palakkad 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.
