Seasonal growers use the cold months to supply the fruiting temperature for free. ICAR-DMR's seasonal folder gives November to February for the north Indian plains, September to March for the mid-hills and March to November for the high hills. The 2011 manual says October to February for the plains, so treat the edges as soft.
The room is brick, mud or bamboo with a thatch roof, and ICAR-DMR says a start can be made in a 10 by 10 by 12 foot room. One crop is taken and picking runs 8 to 10 weeks.