Planning polyhouse farming in Mussoorie? Mussoorie is a small town in Dehradun district, Uttarakhand, home to about 30,000 people (Census 2011)[1], 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 Mussoorie
May is the hottest month in Mussoorie, with average daily highs of about 30°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 2°C.[2] The area gets about 1,296 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 369 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Mussoorie sits about 1,825 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Mussoorie falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[3]
Mussoorie climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
12.6
1.8
49
37
Feb
15.4
3.7
50
44
Mar
20.7
7.6
44
39
Apr
26.5
12.5
38
30
May
30.4
16.7
35
46
Jun
30.1
19.0
50
162
Jul
25.7
18.8
79
369
Aug
23.7
18.1
86
365
Sep
23.0
15.8
80
169
Oct
20.6
11.0
62
17
Nov
17.3
7.0
50
6
Dec
14.3
3.5
46
12
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Mussoorie, 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 Mussoorie
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Mussoorie lettuce 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 July's 369 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 (July to September), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Uttarakhand can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Mussoorie?
For polyhouse farming in Mussoorie, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Mussoorie: average lows fall to 2°C in January, and nights stay at 8°C or below in November to March. A naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up side curtains traps daytime warmth; close the curtains at night in those months. Summer highs reach about 30°C in May, so roof vents and a shade screen are enough. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely worth its running cost here.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 369 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.9 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months.
Crops for Mussoorie
Based on Mussoorie's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (9 months), tomato (7 months) and capsicum (6 months). Lettuce fits February to April and July to December in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Mussoorie.
Months each crop suits in Mussoorie
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
Capsicum
Apr–Sep
Tomato
Apr–Oct
Cucumber
May–Sep
Chilli pepper
Apr–Sep
Brinjal
May–Sep
Lettuce
Feb–Apr and Jul–Dec
Broccoli
Feb–Mar and Sep–Dec
Strawberry
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Rose
Apr and Jul–Oct
Gerbera
Apr and Jul–Oct
Carnation
Mar and Sep–Oct
Chrysanthemum
Apr and Jul–Oct
Anthurium
Jul–Sep
Orchids
Jul–Sep
Lilium
Mar and Sep–Oct
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.
₹7,547Spending per person per month, urban Uttarakhand, 2023–24[6]
220 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Uttarakhand spent an average of ₹7,547 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Mussoorie may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Dehradun, about 10 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Delhi is within a day's delivery, about 220 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Mussoorie with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Uttarakhand so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Mussoorie is about 1,210 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Mussoorie
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Mussoorie:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Mussoorie: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Mussoorie?
Yes, with the right structure. For Mussoorie we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in January, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Mussoorie?
With May highs of about 30°C and 35% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Mussoorie?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, broccoli and tomato have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Mussoorie?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Mussoorie, lettuce 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 Mussoorie?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,210 km away, and we have built 2 projects in Uttarakhand.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Uttarakhand?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Uttarakhand 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 Mussoorie 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.
