Planning polyhouse farming in Vaikom? Vaikom is a small town in Kottayam district, Kerala, home to about 23,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 380 km from Bengaluru. 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 Vaikom
March is the hottest month in Vaikom, with average daily highs of about 33°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 23°C.[3] The area gets about 2,653 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to November, peaking in June at about 494 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in April to November, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Vaikom sits about 2 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Vaikom falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[4]
Vaikom climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
31.5
23.2
66
13
Feb
32.8
24.4
63
27
Mar
33.0
25.8
67
54
Apr
31.6
26.5
76
129
May
30.0
26.5
82
284
Jun
28.3
25.6
87
494
Jul
27.4
24.8
89
439
Aug
27.3
24.5
89
350
Sep
27.8
24.6
87
293
Oct
28.3
24.8
85
358
Nov
29.1
24.5
80
174
Dec
30.0
23.5
73
38
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Vaikom. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Vaikom
1
Year-round crops
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for the whole year in Vaikom, 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 June's 494 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 (April to November), so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Kerala can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Vaikom?
For polyhouse farming in Vaikom, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. With average highs between 27°C and 33°C through the year, Vaikom suits a naturally ventilated polyhouse for most crops. Fan & Pad cooling is rarely needed; spend the budget on good ventilation, insect net and a shade screen. Plan for heavy rain in June (about 494 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Sunlight peaks in March 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 December to March, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Vaikom
Based on Vaikom's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (all year), chilli pepper (all year) and brinjal (all year). Cucumber fits all year in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Lilium and chrysanthemum 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 Vaikom.
Months each crop suits in Vaikom
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
May–Dec
All year
Tomato
Jul–Dec
Jul–Feb
Cucumber
All year
All year
Chilli pepper
All year
All year
Brinjal
All year
All year
Lettuce
Aug
Nov–Feb and Aug
Broccoli
Difficult
Difficult
Strawberry
Difficult
Difficult
Rose
Difficult
Difficult
Gerbera
Difficult
Dec–Jan
Carnation
Difficult
Difficult
Chrysanthemum
Difficult
Difficult
Anthurium
May–Dec
All year
Orchids
May–Dec
All year
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.
₹7,834Spending per person per month, urban Kerala, 2023–24[6]
380 kmto Bengaluru, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Kerala spent an average of ₹7,834 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Vaikom may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Kochi, about 30 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Vaikom with Kryzen
Vaikom is about 950 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Vaikom
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Vaikom:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Vaikom: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Vaikom?
Yes, with the right structure. For Vaikom we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in March to July and September to October, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Vaikom?
With March highs of about 33°C and 67% average humidity in that month, we would start with a naturally ventilated polyhouse.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Vaikom?
Going by the monthly climate, capsicum, cucumber and chilli pepper have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Vaikom?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Vaikom, 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 Vaikom?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 950 km away.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Kerala?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Kerala 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 Vaikom 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.
