Planning polyhouse farming in Madikeri? Madikeri is a small town in Kodagu district, Karnataka, home to about 34,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 210 km from Bengaluru. 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 Madikeri
March is the hottest month in Madikeri, with average daily highs of about 31°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 14°C.[3] The area gets about 2,993 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to October, peaking in July at about 774 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in May to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Madikeri sits about 1,061 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Madikeri falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[4]
Madikeri climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
25.8
13.5
66
2
Feb
28.9
15.1
58
5
Mar
30.6
17.4
58
22
Apr
29.5
19.0
68
63
May
26.5
19.2
79
192
Jun
22.5
18.6
90
688
Jul
21.2
18.2
93
774
Aug
21.4
17.9
93
581
Sep
22.1
17.5
91
331
Oct
22.7
17.3
89
230
Nov
22.8
15.9
84
89
Dec
23.2
14.1
77
16
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Madikeri, adjusted for the town's elevation[5]. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Madikeri
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, capsicum can be grown for the whole year in Madikeri, 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 774 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 Karnataka can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[6]
Which polyhouse suits Madikeri?
For polyhouse farming in Madikeri, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. With average highs between 21°C and 31°C through the year, Madikeri suits a naturally ventilated polyhouse for most crops. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely needed; spend the budget on good ventilation, insect net and a shade screen. Plan for heavy rain in July (about 774 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Sunlight peaks in March at about 6.4 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 January to April, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Madikeri
Based on Madikeri's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are capsicum (all year), tomato (all year) and cucumber (all year). Capsicum fits all year in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Strawberry is hard to time here, so we would leave it out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Madikeri.
Months each crop suits in Madikeri
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
Capsicum
All year
Tomato
All year
Cucumber
All year
Chilli pepper
All year
Brinjal
All year
Lettuce
May–Jan
Broccoli
Sep–Dec
Strawberry
Dec
Rose
May–Jan
Gerbera
May–Jan
Carnation
Sep–Dec
Chrysanthemum
May–Jan
Anthurium
Apr–Nov
Orchids
Apr–Nov
Lilium
Sep–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.
₹8,169Spending per person per month, urban Karnataka, 2023–24[7]
210 kmto Bengaluru, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Karnataka spent an average of ₹8,169 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[7] Local demand in Madikeri may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Bengaluru is within a day's delivery, about 210 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Madikeri with Kryzen
We have built 38 projects in Karnataka so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Madikeri is about 650 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Madikeri
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Madikeri:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Madikeri: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Madikeri?
Yes, with the right structure. For Madikeri we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse.
Which polyhouse is best for Madikeri?
With March highs of about 31°C and 58% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Madikeri?
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 Madikeri?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Madikeri, 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 Madikeri?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 650 km away, and we have built 38 projects in Karnataka.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Karnataka?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Karnataka 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 Madikeri 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.
