Golden Acre

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Planting Schedule

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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

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Golden Acre Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 18th	Jul 27th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Jul 21st – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jul 15th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jul 10th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jul 6th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jul 3rd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jun 27th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	Jun 22nd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	Jun 12th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	Jun 3rd – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	May 25th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	May 8th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Apr 13th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

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.