Planning polyhouse farming in Delhi? Delhi is a city of about 1.1 crore people (GeoNames) in New Delhi district, Delhi[1][2]. 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 Delhi
May is the hottest month in Delhi, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 6°C.[3] The area gets about 750 mm of rain a year, most of it in July to September, peaking in July at about 217 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Delhi falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]
Delhi climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
21.4
5.9
44
16
Feb
25.6
9.1
41
22
Mar
32.4
14.9
33
18
Apr
39.0
21.8
24
15
May
42.8
27.3
23
33
Jun
42.1
29.7
36
80
Jul
36.7
27.8
63
217
Aug
33.7
25.8
75
203
Sep
33.4
23.2
69
121
Oct
32.2
18.2
51
13
Nov
27.6
12.6
43
4
Dec
22.8
7.7
42
8
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Delhi. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Delhi
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Delhi 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
Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps July's 217 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 (August), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Delhi can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Delhi?
For polyhouse farming in Delhi, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Delhi comes with dry air. In April to June, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 28%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 43°C May afternoon down to roughly 31°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.
Plan for heavy rain in July (about 217 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.7 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 Delhi
Based on Delhi'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 Delhi.
Months each crop suits in Delhi
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Nov
Mar–Apr and Aug–Nov
Tomato
Nov
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Cucumber
Mar and Aug–Oct
Mar–May and Jul–Oct
Chilli pepper
Mar and Oct–Nov
Mar–May and Aug–Nov
Brinjal
Mar and Oct
Mar–May and Aug–Oct
Lettuce
Nov–Feb
Oct–Apr
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Strawberry
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Rose
Nov
Mar and Oct–Nov
Gerbera
Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
Carnation
Dec
Feb–Mar and Nov–Dec
Chrysanthemum
Nov
Mar and Oct–Nov
Anthurium
Difficult
Apr–May and Aug–Oct
Orchids
Difficult
Apr–May and Aug–Oct
Lilium
Dec
Feb–Mar and Nov–Dec
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.
₹8,548Spending per person per month, urban Delhi, 2023–24[6]
Urban households in Delhi spent an average of ₹8,548 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] A city of this size has hotels, restaurants, modern retail and quick-commerce stores within its own limits, so most harvests can be sold locally. Line up two or three buyers before planting and agree on grade and delivery days.
Polyhouse farming in Delhi with Kryzen
We have built 3 projects in Delhi so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Delhi is about 990 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Delhi
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Delhi:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Delhi: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Delhi?
Yes, with the right structure. For Delhi 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 Delhi?
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 Delhi?
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 Delhi?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Delhi, 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 Delhi?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 990 km away, and we have built 3 projects in Delhi.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Delhi?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Delhi 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 Delhi 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.
