Planning polyhouse farming in Varkala? Varkala is a town in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, home to about 43,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 480 km from Bengaluru. This guide works from Varkala'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 Varkala
March is the hottest month in Varkala, with average daily highs of about 33°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 22°C.[3] The area gets about 1,795 mm of rain a year, most of it in April to November, peaking in October at about 291 mm. Average humidity stays at 75% or more in April to December, which raises the risk of leaf disease and slows evaporative cooling. Varkala sits about 190 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Varkala falls in the tropical monsoon zone (Am).[4]
Varkala climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
30.1
22.3
72
16
Feb
32.2
23.4
66
21
Mar
32.8
25.2
67
53
Apr
31.4
26.4
75
123
May
29.7
26.5
82
202
Jun
28.1
25.6
87
249
Jul
27.3
24.6
89
188
Aug
27.4
24.5
89
162
Sep
27.7
24.6
87
206
Oct
28.0
24.7
85
291
Nov
28.3
24.3
83
222
Dec
28.5
23.0
80
62
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Varkala. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Varkala
1
ఏడాది పొడవునా పంటలు
Under cover, cucumber can be grown for the whole year in Varkala, 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 October's 291 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 December), so you spray less often.
5
సబ్సిడీకి అర్హం
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 Varkala?
For polyhouse farming in Varkala, 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, Varkala 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 October (about 291 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 Varkala
Based on Varkala'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 Varkala.
Months each crop suits in Varkala
పంట
సహజ వెంటిలేషన్ పాలీహౌస్
క్యాప్సికమ్
May–Jan
టమాటా
Jul–Jan
దోసకాయ
All year
Chilli pepper
All year
వంకాయ
All year
లెట్యూస్
Aug
బ్రోకలీ
Difficult
స్ట్రాబెర్రీ
Difficult
గులాబీ
Difficult
గెర్బెరా
Difficult
కార్నేషన్
Difficult
చామంతి
Difficult
ఆంథూరియం
May–Dec
ఆర్కిడ్లు
May–Dec
లిలియం
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]
480 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 Varkala may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Kollam, about 20 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Varkala with Kryzen
Varkala is about 1,070 km in a straight line from our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), our nearest site.
Towns near Varkala
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Varkala:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Varkala: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Varkala?
Yes, with the right structure. For Varkala 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 Varkala?
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 Varkala?
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 Varkala?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Varkala, 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 Varkala?
Yes. Our nearest site is our factory and master warehouse at Degaon, Wai (Satara), about 1,070 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 Varkala 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.
