Planning polyhouse farming in Nellore? Nellore is a large city in Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, home to about 5.5 lakh people (Census 2011)[1], about 160 km from Chennai. 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 Nellore
May is the hottest month in Nellore, with average daily highs of about 37°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 21°C.[2] The area gets about 1,007 mm of rain a year, most of it in August to November, peaking in October at about 251 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in October to January, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Nellore sits about 18 m above sea level.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Nellore falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[3]
Nellore climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
27.3
20.8
76
12
Feb
29.9
21.2
71
4
Mar
33.5
23.4
66
8
Apr
35.8
26.0
63
15
May
36.9
28.4
59
40
Jun
34.9
27.9
61
54
Jul
33.9
26.9
64
94
Aug
33.0
26.3
69
114
Sep
31.9
25.9
74
110
Oct
30.6
25.3
76
251
Nov
28.3
23.6
80
227
Dec
27.0
21.8
78
78
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Nellore. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[2]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Nellore
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for the whole year in Nellore, 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 October's 251 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 (October to January), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Andhra Pradesh can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[4]
Which polyhouse suits Nellore?
For polyhouse farming in Nellore, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Average highs stay at 33°C or more in March to August, with moderate humidity of about 64%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 37°C May afternoon down to roughly 32°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. Capsicum, cucumber and tomato do well in a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen. If you want one structure, decide by crop: greens all year point to Fan & Pad; vine crops point to a naturally ventilated house.
Plan for heavy rain in October (about 251 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.8 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 December to March and July, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Nellore
Based on Nellore's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (all year), chilli pepper (10 months) and brinjal (10 months). Cucumber fits all year with Fan & Pad cooling. Lilium and carnation 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 Nellore.
Months each crop suits in Nellore
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Oct–Feb
Aug–Apr
Tomato
Oct–Feb
Oct–Mar
Cucumber
Jul–Mar
All year
Chilli pepper
Aug–Feb
Jul–Apr
Brinjal
Aug–Feb
Jul–Apr
Lettuce
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Broccoli
Difficult
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Difficult
Rose
Jan
Jan–Feb
Gerbera
Dec–Jan
Dec–Mar
Carnation
Difficult
Difficult
Chrysanthemum
Jan
Jan–Feb
Anthurium
Nov–Feb
Jul–Apr
Orchids
Nov–Feb
Jul–Apr
Lilium
Difficult
Difficult
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.
₹7,341Spending per person per month, urban Andhra Pradesh, 2023–24[5]
160 kmto Chennai, the nearest metro (straight line)
The Census counted 4.1 lakh people in Nellore in 2001 and 5.5 lakh in 2011, a rise of 35%. In 1991 it was 3.2 lakh.[1] Urban households in Andhra Pradesh spent an average of ₹7,341 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[5] Nellore is large enough for steady local sales to restaurants, hotels and fruit-and-vegetable retailers. Start with a farm size that matches the orders you can confirm. For premium vegetable and flower buyers, Chennai is within a day's delivery, about 160 km away.
Polyhouse farming in Nellore with Kryzen
We have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Nellore is about 760 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Nellore
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Nellore:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Nellore: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Nellore?
Yes, with the right structure. For Nellore we would plan Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in April to October, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Nellore?
With May highs of about 37°C and 59% average humidity in that month, we would start with Fan & Pad cooling for leafy greens and a naturally ventilated polyhouse for vine crops.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Nellore?
Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, chilli pepper and brinjal have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Nellore?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Nellore, 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 Nellore?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 760 km away, and we have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Andhra Pradesh?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Andhra Pradesh 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 Nellore 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.
