Planning polyhouse farming in Solan? Solan is a town in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, home to about 40,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 260 km from Delhi. We have used the monthly climate for Solan to plan a structure, a growing system and a crop calendar, so you can compare them with your own plot and buyers.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Solan
May is the hottest month in Solan, with average daily highs of about 32°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 2°C.[3] The area gets about 1,095 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in August at about 282 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in August, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Solan sits about 1,502 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Solan falls in the humid subtropical with dry winters zone (Cwa).[4]
Solan climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
13.0
2.1
46
40
Feb
15.9
4.4
47
45
Mar
21.5
8.8
42
42
Apr
27.8
14.6
34
32
May
32.3
19.3
29
42
Jun
32.3
21.7
42
140
Jul
27.8
21.0
69
281
Aug
25.2
19.7
79
282
Sep
24.1
17.2
74
158
Oct
22.6
12.4
54
12
Nov
18.6
7.7
44
8
Dec
14.7
3.8
42
13
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Solan, 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 Solan
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Solan 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 August's 282 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.[6]
Which polyhouse suits Solan?
For polyhouse farming in Solan, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Solan: average lows fall to 2°C in January, and nights stay at 8°C or below in November 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 32°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 August (about 282 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.1 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months.
Crops for Solan
Based on Solan's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (9 months), chilli pepper (7 months) and cucumber (6 months). Lettuce fits February to April and July to December in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Solan.
Months each crop suits in Solan
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
Capsicum
Apr and Jul–Oct
Tomato
Apr and Jul–Oct
Cucumber
Apr–Sep
Chilli pepper
Apr–Oct
Brinjal
Apr–Sep
Lettuce
Feb–Apr and Jul–Dec
Broccoli
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Strawberry
Feb–Mar and Oct–Dec
Rose
Apr and Jul–Oct
Gerbera
Apr and Jul–Oct
Carnation
Mar and Sep–Nov
Chrysanthemum
Apr and Jul–Oct
Anthurium
Jul–Sep
Orchids
Jul–Sep
Lilium
Mar 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[7]
260 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.[7] Local demand in Solan may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Shimla, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Solan with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Himachal Pradesh so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Solan is about 1,240 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Solan
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Solan:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Solan: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Solan?
Yes, with the right structure. For Solan we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in January, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Solan?
With May highs of about 32°C and 29% 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 Solan?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, capsicum and tomato have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Solan?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Solan, lettuce 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 Solan?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,240 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 Solan 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.
