Growing Conditions · England

Derbyshire Dales Growing Conditions

Soil, hardiness and a planting calendar for Derbyshire Dales — across 6 postcode districts.

RHS H4 free-draining, fertile near-neutral loam 927mm rain

Soil

A free-draining, fertile soil close to neutral — one of the easier soils to garden. It suits a very wide range of planting, from vegetables to fruit and ornamentals, and works readily in most seasons. Keep it fed and mulched; being free-draining, it can dry in high summer. A firm, stable base for hardscaping.

Winter hardiness

Rated RHS H4 — the UK mainstream, with winter lows near -6°C. The vast majority of garden plants, perennials, shrubs and trees come through a normal winter unprotected; only genuinely tender exotics need a warm corner or cover.

Rain & growing season

Moderate rainfall (927mm a year) — enough for most gardens without heavy irrigation, though pots and new plantings need watering in summer. A typical UK growing season (~323 frost-free days), with the last frosts clearing through spring and first frosts returning in autumn.

Planting Calendar for Derbyshire Dales

Sow indoors
February–March
Plant out
mid-May
Harvest
June–October

Timings are guided by this area's ~323 frost-free days and RHS H4 hardiness; adjust for a cold or sheltered garden.

Conditions by Postcode

PostcodeSoil HardinessRainfall
DE45 free-draining, fertile near-neutral loam RHS H4 981mm
S11 acid clay loam, seasonally wet RHS H4 760mm
S32 free-draining acid loam — the classic 'good garden soil' RHS H4 981mm
S33 free-draining acid loam — the classic 'good garden soil' RHS H4 981mm
SK17 free-draining, fertile near-neutral loam RHS H4 981mm
ST14 loamy-clay with impeded drainage RHS H4 875mm

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