Planning polyhouse farming in Ongole? Ongole is a mid-sized city in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, home to about 2.1 lakh people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 270 km from Hyderabad. This guide works from Ongole'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 Ongole
May is the hottest month in Ongole, with average daily highs of about 38°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 20°C.[3] The area gets about 874 mm of rain a year, most of it in July to November, peaking in October at about 195 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in September to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Ongole falls in the tropical savanna (dry winter) zone (Aw).[4]
Ongole climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
28.5
20.1
72
9
Feb
31.2
21.1
67
6
Mar
34.4
23.5
63
8
Apr
36.3
25.9
62
17
May
37.8
28.4
57
42
Jun
34.9
27.5
62
73
Jul
33.7
26.3
67
111
Aug
32.6
25.6
72
126
Sep
31.6
25.4
76
134
Oct
30.7
24.6
77
195
Nov
28.8
22.5
78
120
Dec
27.8
20.6
75
33
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Ongole. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Ongole
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for the whole year in Ongole, 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 195 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 (September to December), 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.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Ongole?
For polyhouse farming in Ongole, 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 July, with moderate humidity of about 62%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 38°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.
Sunlight peaks in April at about 6.6 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 February, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Ongole
Based on Ongole's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (all year), chilli pepper (11 months) and brinjal (11 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 Ongole.
Months each crop suits in Ongole
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Oct–Jan
Jul–Apr
Tomato
Oct–Jan
Sep–Mar
Cucumber
Jul–Feb
All year
Chilli pepper
Aug–Feb
Jun–Apr
Brinjal
Aug–Feb
Jun–Apr
Lettuce
Dec
Nov–Feb
Broccoli
Difficult
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Difficult
Rose
Dec
Dec–Feb
Gerbera
Dec
Nov–Feb
Carnation
Difficult
Difficult
Chrysanthemum
Dec
Dec–Feb
Anthurium
Nov–Jan
Jun–Apr
Orchids
Nov–Jan
Jun–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[6]
270 kmto Hyderabad, the nearest metro (straight line)
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.[6] Ongole 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.
Polyhouse farming in Ongole with Kryzen
We have built 30 projects in Andhra Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Ongole is about 700 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Ongole
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Ongole:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Ongole: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Ongole?
Yes, with the right structure. For Ongole 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 March to October, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Ongole?
With May highs of about 38°C and 57% 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 Ongole?
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 Ongole?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Ongole, 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 Ongole?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 700 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 Ongole 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.
