Golden Acre

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Golden Acre cabbage brings a bright, buttery glow to the garden—crisp, sweet leaves with a tender bite and a finely layered head that feels satisfyingly dense in the hand.

At maturity, the compact, round heads develop a warm golden-green interior and hold their quality beautifully for reliable harvests. Grow Golden Acre for fresh salads, slaws, and hearty braises, or for pickling when you want that classic tangy crunch.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 18th
Harvest Begins	Jun 27th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Golden Acre’s compact head and buttery leaf texture make it a slam-dunk for slaw and quick pickling—thin slices don’t go limp and the flavor stays bright. When you braise it, the layers surrender evenly, so you get silky sweetness with only a restrained brassica bite.

Best Uses

cold slaw that stays snappy for hours
quick pickles where the leaves hold a tight, tangy crunch
braises and sautés that turn silky without getting sulfur-y
wilted cabbage with butter and vinegar for fast weeknight sides

Flavor Profile

sweet, cabbage-core sweetness buttery crispness with a tender bite mildly peppery, clean brassica finish finely layered leaves that soften evenly

Kitchen Pairings

caraway garlic caraway-scented rye bread mustard (Dijon or whole grain) apple cider vinegar butter

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common Brassica pest or disease problem for cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) like ‘Golden Acre,’ and how can I control it?

Watch for cabbage worms (imported cabbageworm/loopers) and cabbage aphids, which cluster on new growth and leave ragged holes or sticky residue. Hand-pick worms early and use row cover over transplants to prevent egg laying; if infestations are heavy, apply an approved Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray targeted to caterpillars following label directions. Also keep the plant base weed-free and avoid overhead watering to reduce foliar diseases like black rot and clubroot symptoms in stressed plants.

How often should I water Golden Acre cabbage during its main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I aim for?

During active head formation (roughly weeks 5–10 after transplant, before maturity ~70 days), keep the soil evenly moist with about 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week total from rainfall plus irrigation. Water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone, then allow the top 1 inch of soil to dry slightly before watering again to prevent root stress and disease buildup. Mulch around the plants to stabilize moisture and reduce drought stress that can cause loose heads.

How do I tell when ‘Golden Acre’ cabbage is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the head is firm and compact, and the outer leaves are fully developed but still green; check by gently pressing the head—if it feels dense rather than springy, it’s ready. For a 70-day crop, start checking around day 65 and harvest once heads reach full size rather than waiting for color change alone. Cut the head with a sharp knife, leaving the outer wrapper leaves to protect the head during cool storage.