Planning polyhouse farming in Manali? Manali is a town in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh[1], about 400 km from Delhi. 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 Manali
July is the hottest month in Manali, with average daily highs of about 26°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging -7°C.[2] The area gets about 880 mm of rain a year, most of it in June to September, peaking in August at about 226 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in February to March and July to September, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Manali sits about 2,050 m above sea level, so nights run cooler than in the plains around it.[1] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Manali falls in the temperate oceanic zone (Cfb).[3]
Manali climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
8.1
-6.7
71
36
Feb
9.6
-5.8
78
42
Mar
13.7
-1.6
75
40
Apr
18.2
3.7
72
30
May
22.0
7.7
67
35
Jun
24.9
11.4
74
105
Jul
26.1
14.6
87
217
Aug
25.4
14.5
90
226
Sep
23.0
10.5
82
115
Oct
18.3
4.8
69
11
Nov
14.3
0.3
62
11
Dec
10.6
-3.9
62
12
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Manali, 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 Manali
1
ఏడాది పొడవునా పంటలు
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Manali lettuce can be grown for about 7 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.
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 August's 226 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 (February to March and July to September), so you spray less often.
5
సబ్సిడీకి అర్హం
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 Manali?
For polyhouse farming in Manali, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. Cold, not heat, sets the limits in Manali: average lows fall to -7°C in January, and nights stay at 8°C or below in October to May. A naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up side curtains traps daytime warmth; close the curtains at night in those months. Summer highs reach about 26°C in July, 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 226 mm): raise the plinth, size the gutters for that month and keep drains away from the nutrient tank. Sunlight peaks in May at about 6.8 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months.
Crops for Manali
Based on Manali's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are lettuce (7 months), strawberry (5 months) and tomato (4 months). Lettuce fits April to October in a naturally ventilated polyhouse. Orchids and anthurium 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 Manali.
Months each crop suits in Manali
పంట
సహజ వెంటిలేషన్ పాలీహౌస్
క్యాప్సికమ్
Jul–Aug
టమాటా
Jun–Sep
దోసకాయ
Jul–Aug
Chilli pepper
Jul–Aug
వంకాయ
Jul–Aug
లెట్యూస్
Apr–Oct
బ్రోకలీ
Apr–May and Sep–Oct
స్ట్రాబెర్రీ
Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct
గులాబీ
Jun–Sep
గెర్బెరా
Jun–Sep
కార్నేషన్
May–Jun and Sep
చామంతి
Jun–Sep
ఆంథూరియం
Difficult
ఆర్కిడ్లు
Difficult
లిలియం
May and Sep
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]
400 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 Manali may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes.
Polyhouse farming in Manali with Kryzen
We have built 2 projects in Himachal Pradesh so far (see our project map (కొత్త ట్యాబ్లో తెరుచుకుంటుంది)). Manali is about 1,390 km in a straight line from our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Manali
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Manali:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Manali: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Manali?
Yes, with the right structure. For Manali we would plan a naturally ventilated polyhouse with roll-up curtains closed on cold nights. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in November to March, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Manali?
With July highs of about 26°C and 87% 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 Manali?
Going by the monthly climate, lettuce, broccoli and strawberry have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Manali?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Manali, lettuce and strawberry 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 Manali?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar warehouse, about 1,390 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 Manali 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.
