Planning polyhouse farming in Darjiling? Darjiling is a mid-sized city in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, home to about 1.2 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 500 km from Kolkata. This guide works from Darjiling's own monthly climate to suggest the protected structure, the crops to start with, and the months each crop is likely to do well.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Darjiling
May is the hottest month in Darjiling, with average daily highs of about 24°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 4°C.[2] The area gets about 1,546 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to September, peaking in July at about 419 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Darjiling sits about 2,115 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Darjiling falls in the subtropical highland with dry winters zone (Cwb).[3]
Darjiling climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
13.1
3.5
50
6
Feb
16.2
5.5
45
12
Mar
20.6
8.9
40
30
Apr
23.5
12.5
48
64
May
23.9
14.9
65
144
Jun
23.6
16.9
79
235
Jul
22.0
17.4
89
419
Aug
21.8
17.2
90
317
Sep
20.8
16.1
89
242
Oct
19.1
12.8
80
70
Nov
16.3
8.8
69
4
Dec
13.8
5.3
59
3
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Darjiling, 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 Darjiling
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, lettuce can be grown for the whole year in Darjiling, 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 July's 419 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 (June to October), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in West Bengal can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Darjiling?
For polyhouse farming in Darjiling, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Darjiling: average lows fall to 4°C in January, and nights stay at 8°C or below in December to February. A naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up side curtains traps daytime warmth; close the curtains at night in those months. Summer highs reach about 24°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 419 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Crops for Darjiling
Based on Darjiling's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (all year), broccoli (all year) and carnation (9 months). Lettuce fits all year in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Darjiling.
Months each crop suits in Darjiling
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
Capsicum
Apr–Oct
Tomato
Apr–Oct
Cucumber
May–Sep
Chilli pepper
Apr–Oct
Brinjal
May–Sep
Lettuce
All year
Broccoli
All year
Strawberry
Oct–May
Rose
Apr–Oct
Gerbera
Apr–Oct
Carnation
Mar–Nov
Chrysanthemum
Apr–Oct
Anthurium
Jun–Sep
Orchids
Jun–Sep
Lilium
Mar–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.
₹5,903Spending per person per month, urban West Bengal, 2023–24[6]
500 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in West Bengal spent an average of ₹5,903 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Darjiling may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Siliguri, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Darjiling with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Darjiling is about 1,540 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Darjiling
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Darjiling:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Darjiling: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Darjiling?
Yes, with the right structure. For Darjiling we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights.
Which polyhouse is best for Darjiling?
With May highs of about 24°C and 65% 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 Darjiling?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, broccoli and carnation have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Darjiling?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Darjiling, lettuce and broccoli 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 Darjiling?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,540 km away, and we have built 2 projects in West Bengal.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in West Bengal?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in West Bengal 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 Darjiling 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.
