Planning polyhouse farming in Nainital? Nainital is a town in Nainital district, Uttarakhand, home to about 41,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 230 km from Delhi. This guide works from Nainital'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 Nainital
May is the hottest month in Nainital, with average daily highs of about 27°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging -1°C.[2] The area gets about 1,299 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 397 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Nainital sits about 2,084 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Nainital falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[3]
Nainital climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
9.4
-0.9
48
32
Feb
12.4
1.4
47
44
Mar
17.6
5.4
41
31
Apr
23.4
10.8
34
30
May
26.7
15.0
33
48
Jun
26.2
16.9
49
160
Jul
21.2
16.3
78
397
Aug
19.3
15.4
86
326
Sep
18.6
13.5
82
194
Oct
17.1
8.8
64
20
Nov
14.0
4.3
51
5
Dec
10.9
0.8
45
12
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Nainital, 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 Nainital
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Nainital 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 397 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 Nainital?
For polyhouse farming in Nainital, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Nainital: average lows fall to -1°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 27°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 397 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.8 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months.
Crops for Nainital
Based on Nainital's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (9 months), broccoli (7 months) and tomato (6 months). Lettuce fits March to November in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Orchids and anthurium are hard to time here, so we would leave them out of the first season. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Nainital.
Months each crop suits in Nainital
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
Capsicum
May–Sep
Tomato
Apr–Sep
Cucumber
May–Jul
Chilli pepper
May–Sep
Brinjal
May–Jul
Lettuce
Mar–Nov
Broccoli
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Strawberry
Mar–Apr and Aug–Nov
Rose
Apr–Sep
Gerbera
Apr–Sep
Carnation
Apr and Jul–Oct
Chrysanthemum
Apr–Sep
Anthurium
Jun–Jul
Orchids
Jun–Jul
Lilium
Apr and Jul–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]
230 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 Nainital may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Rudrapur, about 50 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Delhi is within a day's delivery, about 230 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Nainital with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Uttarakhand so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Nainital is about 1,140 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Nainital
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Nainital:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Nainital: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Nainital?
Yes, with the right structure. For Nainital we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in December to February, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Nainital?
With May highs of about 27°C and 33% 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 Nainital?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, broccoli and strawberry have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Nainital?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Nainital, 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 Nainital?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,140 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 Nainital 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.
