Planning polyhouse farming in Palampur? Palampur is a town in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh[1], about 390 km from Delhi. This guide works from Palampur'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 Palampur
June is the hottest month in Palampur, with average daily highs of about 34°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 4°C.[2] The area gets about 1,058 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in July at about 274 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Palampur sits about 1,472 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Palampur falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[3]
Palampur climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
13.6
4.3
45
41
Feb
16.4
6.2
48
55
Mar
21.8
10.3
45
59
Apr
27.9
15.5
38
35
May
32.8
19.9
31
34
Jun
33.6
22.6
41
108
Jul
30.0
22.2
67
274
Aug
27.7
21.1
77
272
Sep
26.5
18.9
69
137
Oct
24.2
14.4
50
13
Nov
19.8
10.1
41
12
Dec
15.7
6.4
40
18
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Palampur, 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 Palampur
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Palampur 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 274 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 Himachal Pradesh can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Palampur?
For polyhouse farming in Palampur, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Palampur: average lows fall to 4°C in January, and nights stay at 8°C or below in December to February. A naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up side curtains traps daytime warmth; close the curtains at night in those months. Summer highs reach about 34°C in June, 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 274 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.4 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 April to May and October, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Palampur
Based on Palampur's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (9 months), tomato (7 months) and cucumber (7 months). Lettuce fits August to April in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium 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 Palampur.
Months each crop suits in Palampur
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Apr and Jul–Oct
Apr–Oct
Tomato
Mar–Apr and Jul–Nov
Mar–Nov
Cucumber
Apr–Oct
Apr–Oct
Chilli pepper
Apr–May and Jul–Oct
Apr–Oct
Brinjal
Apr–May and Jul–Oct
Apr–Oct
Lettuce
Aug–Apr
All year
Broccoli
Nov–Mar
Oct–Apr
Strawberry
Oct–Mar
Oct–Apr
Rose
Mar–Apr and Aug–Nov
Mar–May and Aug–Nov
Gerbera
Mar–Apr and Aug–Nov
Mar–Nov
Carnation
Mar and Oct–Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
Chrysanthemum
Mar–Apr and Aug–Nov
Mar–May and Aug–Nov
Anthurium
Apr and Jul–Sep
Apr–Sep
Orchids
Apr and Jul–Sep
Apr–Sep
Lilium
Mar and Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
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.
₹9,230Spending per person per month, urban Himachal Pradesh, 2023–24[6]
390 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Himachal Pradesh spent an average of ₹9,230 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Palampur may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes.
Polyhouse farming in Palampur with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Himachal Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Palampur is about 1,370 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Palampur
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Palampur:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Palampur: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Palampur?
Yes, with the right structure. For Palampur we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights.
Which polyhouse is best for Palampur?
With June highs of about 34°C and 41% 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 Palampur?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, tomato and gerbera have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Palampur?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Palampur, lettuce 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 Palampur?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,370 km away, and we have built 2 projects in Himachal Pradesh.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Himachal Pradesh?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Himachal 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 Palampur 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.
