Planning polyhouse farming in Kalimpong? Kalimpong is a town in Kalimpong district, West Bengal, home to about 49,000 people (Census 2011)[1], about 500 km from Kolkata. We have used the monthly climate for Kalimpong 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 Kalimpong
May is the hottest month in Kalimpong, with average daily highs of about 25°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 5°C.[2] The area gets about 1,705 mm of rain a year, most of it in May to September, peaking in July at about 445 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in June to October, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Kalimpong sits about 1,247 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Kalimpong falls in the subtropical highland with dry winters zone (Cwb).[3]
Kalimpong climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
14.0
4.8
55
6
Feb
17.2
6.8
48
13
Mar
21.5
10.3
43
34
Apr
24.4
13.8
51
78
May
24.9
16.2
67
166
Jun
24.8
18.2
82
270
Jul
23.6
18.7
90
445
Aug
23.6
18.5
89
340
Sep
22.6
17.4
88
263
Oct
20.7
14.3
81
82
Nov
17.5
10.4
73
5
Dec
14.8
6.7
64
3
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Kalimpong, 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 Kalimpong
1
ఏడాది పొడవునా పంటలు
Under cover, lettuce can be grown for the whole year in Kalimpong, so you can supply buyers every week instead of one open-field season.
2
మెరుగైన దిగుబడి మరియు ధర
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
తక్కువ నీరు
Drip irrigation under cover uses less water than flood irrigation, and the roof keeps July's 445 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 (June to October), so you spray less often.
5
సబ్సిడీకి అర్హం
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in West Bengal can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Kalimpong?
For polyhouse farming in Kalimpong, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Kalimpong: average lows fall to 5°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 25°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 July (about 445 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank.
Crops for Kalimpong
Based on Kalimpong's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (all year), tomato (9 months) and rose (9 months). Lettuce fits all year in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Kalimpong.
Months each crop suits in Kalimpong
పంట
సహజ వెంటిలేషన్ పాలీహౌస్
క్యాప్సికమ్
Apr–Oct
టమాటా
Mar–Nov
దోసకాయ
Apr–Oct
Chilli pepper
Apr–Oct
వంకాయ
Apr–Oct
లెట్యూస్
All year
బ్రోకలీ
Sep–Mar
స్ట్రాబెర్రీ
Oct–Apr
గులాబీ
Mar–Nov
గెర్బెరా
Mar–Nov
కార్నేషన్
Mar–May and Sep–Nov
చామంతి
Mar–Nov
ఆంథూరియం
May–Sep
ఆర్కిడ్లు
May–Sep
లిలియం
Mar and Sep–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.
₹5,903Spending per person per month, urban West Bengal, 2023–24[6]
500 kmto Kolkata, the nearest metro (straight line)
The Census counted 40,000 people in Kalimpong in 2001 and 49,000 in 2011, a rise of 23%.[1] Urban households in West Bengal spent an average of ₹5,903 per person per month in 2023–24, below the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Kalimpong may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Siliguri, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Kalimpong with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in West Bengal so far (see our project map (కొత్త ట్యాబ్లో తెరుచుకుంటుంది)). Kalimpong is about 1,570 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Kalimpong
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Kalimpong:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Kalimpong: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Kalimpong?
Yes, with the right structure. For Kalimpong we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights.
Which polyhouse is best for Kalimpong?
With May highs of about 25°C and 67% 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 Kalimpong?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, tomato and broccoli have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Kalimpong?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Kalimpong, 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 Kalimpong?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,570 km away, and we have built 2 projects in West Bengal.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in West Bengal?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in West Bengal 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 Kalimpong 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.
