Cabbage Red Acre Vegetable Seeds

CABBAGE ‘Red Acre’ Vegetable Seeds

Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea Capitata Group

‘Red Acre’ is a compact, heirloom cabbage with dense, deep-purple heads that average 900 g to 1.8 kg. This variety is prized for its sweet flavour, vibrant colour, and excellent storage qualities. It’s ideal for both raw and cooked use—perfect in slaws, braises, or roasted as colourful wedges. The outer leaves, which contain the highest concentration of nutrients, are also tender and flavourful.

Fast to mature, slow to bolt, and frost hardy, ‘Red Acre’ performs well across a range of NZ growing conditions. It is an easy-to-grow crop suited to both backyard gardens and raised beds, thriving in fertile, well-drained soils.

• Early-maturing red cabbage with crisp, sweet flavour
• Ball-shaped heads 25–35 cm wide and weighing up to 1.8 kg
• Great for slaws, salads, fermenting, or steaming
• Holds well in garden after maturity and resists splitting
• Slow bolting; ideal for spring and autumn sowing in NZ

Plant Details

• Plant Type: Annual cool-season vegetable; frost hardy
• Plant Height: 40 cm

Sowing Information

• Germination: 7–12 days
• Depth: Sow 10 mm deep
• Position: Full sun
• Sow Where: Start in trays or sow directly into well-prepared garden beds
• Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained soil, pH 6–6.5; enrich with compost before planting
• Spacing: 35 cm between plants; rows 60–70 cm apart

Growing Tips

• Transplant when seedlings are strong—bury up to the first true leaves for stability.
• Keep soil evenly moist for consistent growth and head development.
• Feed with organic fertiliser when plants reach half their mature size.
• Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Harvest

Ready in approx. 63 days. Begin harvesting when heads are firm and tight. Can be left in the ground slightly longer without splitting.

When to Sow ‘Red Acre’ Cabbage in Your NZ Region