History
Red Acre Cabbage is one of the most beloved and widely grown red cabbage heirlooms in American home gardens — a compact, early-maturing classic that has graced kitchen gardens and farm tables since its introduction in the late 1800s. Prized for its striking deep purple-red color, sweet flavor, and compact, raised-bed-friendly habit, Red Acre quickly became the standard for home-grown red cabbage across the country. Its adaptability to a wide range of climates, reliable performance in both spring and fall gardens, and exceptional culinary versatility made it a staple of seed catalogs for generations. Open-pollinated and non-GMO, Red Acre has been saved and passed down by gardeners who value its vivid color, sweet flavor, and dependable early harvest.
Plant Profile
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Days to Maturity: 75–80 days from transplant
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Head Size: 5–7 inches in diameter, 2–4 pounds — compact, round, and uniform
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Leaf Color: Deep purple-red outer leaves with a dense, richly colored interior
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Plant Spread: 15–18 inches — compact and well-suited for raised beds
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Plant Type: Open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom brassica
Flavor Profile
Red Acre delivers a mildly sweet, slightly peppery cabbage flavor with a firm, crisp texture that holds up beautifully raw or cooked. The deep purple-red interior leaves are dense and richly colored, with a clean, earthy sweetness that intensifies after light frost exposure. Cool weather brings out the best in Red Acre — fall-harvested heads are noticeably sweeter and more deeply flavored than summer-harvested ones. The firm texture makes Red Acre exceptional for slaws, pickling, braising, and fermentation, where its vivid color transforms dishes with a stunning natural hue. This is a cabbage that earns its place in the garden for flavor and beauty alike.
Growth Type & Harvest Yields
Red Acre is a compact, upright cabbage that produces uniform, round heads averaging 2–4 pounds each, with a dense, tightly packed interior that holds up well in the kitchen and in storage. Its compact plant spread of 15–18 inches makes it ideal for raised beds, small gardens, and intensive planting. In ideal conditions, a 10-foot row will yield 7–10 solid heads of fresh red cabbage. The variety performs best in cool weather — spring and fall plantings produce the sweetest, most deeply colored heads. Succession planting in early spring and again in midsummer for a fall harvest provides two productive seasons of fresh cabbage from a single garden bed.
Disease Resistance
- Good tolerance to cold — withstands light frost and improves in flavor and color after cold exposure
- Moderate resistance to fusarium yellows in typical garden conditions
- Well-drained soil and good air circulation reduce risk of black rot and fungal issues
- Tip: Rotate brassicas annually — avoid planting cabbage in the same bed more than once every 3 years to reduce soil-borne disease pressure
Growing Tips & Planting Dimensions
- Spacing: Transplant 15–18 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart — Red Acre's compact habit allows closer spacing than most cabbages
- Sow depth: Start seeds ¼ inch deep indoors; transplant when seedlings have 4–6 true leaves
- Germination: 5–10 days at soil temps of 45–85°F — cabbage germinates readily in cool conditions
- Full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily; tolerates partial shade in hot climates
- Requires consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil — consistent moisture prevents head splitting
- Side-dress with compost or balanced fertilizer at transplant and again when heads begin to form
- Harvest promptly when heads feel firm and solid — overripe heads will split
When to Plant
Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date for a spring crop, or 10–12 weeks before your first fall frost for a fall harvest. Transplant outdoors when nighttime temperatures stay above 25°F — cabbage is frost-hardy and can handle light freezes. Direct sowing outdoors is possible but transplanting gives more reliable results and better head uniformity. Find your frost dates and hardiness zone at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Companion Plants & Mutual Benefits
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Dill & Chamomile — attract beneficial insects that prey on cabbage worms and aphids
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Onions & Garlic — strong scents deter cabbage moths and aphids
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Nasturtiums — act as a trap crop for aphids, drawing them away from cabbage
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Celery — said to repel cabbage white butterflies when planted nearby
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Avoid planting near: strawberries, tomatoes, and other brassicas in the same season — brassicas compete heavily and share disease pressure
How to Enjoy
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Fresh Coleslaw: Shred thinly and toss with a tangy vinegar dressing — Red Acre's vivid color makes a stunning slaw
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Braised: Slow-braise with apples, onions, and red wine vinegar for a classic sweet-and-sour German-style side dish
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Pickled: Quick-pickle shredded Red Acre in vinegar and spices for a vibrant condiment that keeps for weeks
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Soups & Stews: Add chopped red cabbage to hearty soups and stews for color, body, and sweetness
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Fermented: Shred and salt for homemade red sauerkraut — Red Acre ferments beautifully with a stunning deep purple color
Why Gardeners Love Red Acre Cabbage
- Stunning deep purple-red color that transforms slaws, pickles, and ferments with natural beauty
- Compact, raised-bed-friendly habit — one of the smallest-footprint red cabbages available
- Sweet, mildly peppery flavor that intensifies after frost for exceptional fall harvests
- Frost-hardy and cool-season adapted — thrives in spring and fall when many crops struggle
- Open-pollinated and non-GMO — save your own seeds year after year
- Versatile in the kitchen — exceptional raw, cooked, pickled, or fermented
Harvest Tips
- Harvest when heads feel firm and solid when squeezed — do not wait for heads to crack or split
- Cut at the base with a sharp knife, leaving a few outer leaves to protect the head
- After harvest, leave the root in the ground — secondary small heads will often sprout from the stump
- Store harvested heads in a cool, humid environment — refrigerator crisper or root cellar — for up to 3 months
- Harvest in the morning for the crispest, most flavorful heads
Order Today
Add Red Acre Heirloom Cabbage Seeds to your garden this season and grow one of America's most beautiful and flavorful heirloom red cabbages — vivid, sweet, and perfectly suited for raised beds and home gardens of every size. Choose your pack size and begin to grow.
