How to Grow Golden Acre Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata 'Golden Acre'
Golden Acre Cabbage is a reliable heirloom brassica prized for its sweet flavor and resistance to splitting. Gardeners grow this cool-season staple for its compact size and ability to thrive in zones 6 through 9, offering a fresh harvest before summer heat sets in.
📷 Wikipedia: Brassica oleraceaStarting Golden Acre Cabbage: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Golden Acre Cabbage is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors two to six weeks before the last frost date, as this variety is best started in place rather than transplanted.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to support healthy root development. Sow seeds directly outdoors or start indoors two to six weeks before the last spring frost, as this cool-season crop tolerates light freezing temperatures. Press seeds lightly into the soil at a depth of about one-quarter inch, then keep them consistently moist. Germination typically occurs within five to ten days.
Space plants twelve to fifteen inches apart in rows eighteen to twenty-four inches wide to ensure proper air circulation. Water consistently to provide one to one-and-a-half inches per week, maintaining even moisture without waterlogging. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain soil temperature and suppress weeds, while feeding with balanced fertilizer if growth slows.
Monitor for cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, and root maggots; use row covers or organic sprays as needed. Watch closely for clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, and fusarium yellows by ensuring good drainage and avoiding overhead watering during wet weather. Harvest heads when they reach full size after sixty-five to seventy-five days from sowing.
When to Plant Golden Acre Cabbage
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | April – May | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | April – May | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | January | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Golden Acre Cabbage
✓ Good companions
Repels cabbage white butterflies and improves growth through complementary root systems
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms
Natural fungicide properties help prevent clubroot and black rot diseases
Deters cabbage worms, aphids, and nematodes while attracting beneficial predatory insects
Acts as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, drawing pests away from cabbage
Repels cabbage moths, aphids, and other brassica pests with strong sulfur compounds
Provides living mulch and utilizes different soil nutrients without competing
Deters cabbage worms and flea beetles while attracting beneficial pollinators
✗ Keep away from
Tall growth creates excessive shade and competes for nitrogen that cabbage needs
Allelopathic compounds inhibit brassica growth and development
Cabbage can inhibit strawberry growth and both attract similar soil-borne diseases
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt cabbage growth through root competition
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
