Planning polyhouse farming in Sunam? Sunam is a town in Sangrur district, Punjab, home to about 69,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 220 km from Delhi. 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 Sunam
May is the hottest month in Sunam, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 5°C.[3] The area gets about 508 mm of rain a year. The wettest months are July to August, peaking in July at about 122 mm. Sunam sits about 231 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Sunam falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]
Sunam climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
20.3
5.3
43
16
Feb
24.6
8.4
42
20
Mar
31.3
14.4
35
22
Apr
38.1
21.0
27
16
May
42.6
27.0
23
28
Jun
42.5
29.9
34
72
Jul
38.8
28.8
54
122
Aug
36.8
26.9
61
110
Sep
35.8
23.7
57
85
Oct
33.4
18.6
41
5
Nov
27.6
12.6
36
5
Dec
22.4
7.4
38
7
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Sunam. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Sunam
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Sunam cucumber can be grown for about 7 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
With only about 508 mm of rain a year here, drip irrigation under cover saves water: less is lost to evaporation and run-off than in the open field.
4
Less pesticides
Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Punjab can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Sunam?
For polyhouse farming in Sunam, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Sunam comes with dry air. In April to July, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 35%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 43°C May afternoon down to roughly 30°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. For vine crops such as capsicum and cucumber, a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen works from November and costs less to run.
Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.0 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 March and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Sunam
Based on Sunam's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (7 months), chilli pepper (7 months) and lettuce (7 months). Cucumber fits March to May and July to October with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Sunam.
Months each crop suits in Sunam
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Nov
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Tomato
Nov
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Cucumber
Mar and Oct
Mar–May and Jul–Oct
Chilli pepper
Mar and Nov
Mar–May and Aug–Nov
Brinjal
Mar
Mar–May and Aug–Oct
Lettuce
Nov–Feb
Oct–Apr
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Strawberry
Dec–Feb
Nov–Mar
Rose
Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
Gerbera
Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
Carnation
Feb
Feb–Mar and Nov
Chrysanthemum
Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
Anthurium
Difficult
Apr–May and Sep–Oct
Orchids
Difficult
Apr–May and Sep–Oct
Lilium
Difficult
Feb–Mar and Nov
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.
₹7,383Spending per person per month, urban Punjab, 2023–24[6]
220 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Punjab spent an average of ₹7,383 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Sunam may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Delhi is within a day's delivery, about 220 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Sunam with Kryzen
We have built 4 projects in Punjab so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Sunam is about 1,140 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Sunam
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Sunam:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Sunam: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Sunam?
Yes, with the right structure. For Sunam we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to September, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Sunam?
With May highs of about 43°C and 23% average humidity in that month, we would start with a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Sunam?
Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, chilli pepper and lettuce have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Sunam?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Sunam, 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 Sunam?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,140 km away, and we have built 4 projects in Punjab.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Punjab?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Punjab 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 Sunam 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.
