Hybrid

Crane Red

Brassica oleracea

Photo: Alandmanson · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY 4.0)

Harvest

90-110d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

6–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

10-24 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Crane Red in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Crane Red · Zones 6–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing18-24 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil with moderate organic matter content

WaterRegular, consistent moisture; keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorPlum-red and dark green-to-purple

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

Crane Red is grown for its ornamental foliage, which colors up best when nighttime temperatures drop below 50°F — so staggered succession plantings aren't the goal. You want one well-timed planting that peaks in fall. In zone 7, start seeds indoors in late February to early March, then transplant in April to May for a plant that's fully established by summer. A second start in late June gets fresh transplants in the ground by August, so the 90–110 days to maturity lines up with October's cooler nights. Don't sow every two weeks the way you would with lettuce — you'd just end up with plants at different sizes, all coloring at the same time anyway.

Complete Growing Guide

Extend the flower production season with ornamental kale. The Crane series is consistent, uniform, and provides a range of colors. Crane Red has plum centers surrounded by dark green-to-purple outer leaves. Also known as flowering kale and ornamental cabbage. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Crane Red is 90 - 110 days to maturity, annual, hybrid (f1). Notable features: Cold Tolerant, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Crane Red reaches harvest at 90 - 110 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

The fruits dry and split when ripe.

Color: Brown/Copper, Green. Type: Siliqua. Length: > 3 inches.

Garden value: Edible

Harvest time: Fall, Summer

Edibility: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.

Storage & Preservation

Crane Red ornamental kale should be stored in the refrigerator at 32-40°F in a plastic bag with high humidity to maintain leaf crispness and color vibrancy. Shelf life is 1-2 weeks when refrigerated. For preservation, try drying individual leaves in a food dehydrator at 95-115°F for 6-8 hours to create decorative dried arrangements, or freeze by blanching in boiling water for 3 minutes, then storing in freezer bags for up to 6 months. Pressing flowers between parchment paper under heavy books preserves their ornamental beauty for floral crafts and displays.

History & Origin

Crane Red is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: W. Europe

Advantages

+Plum centers with dark green-purple leaves create striking visual contrast
+Extends flower production season when other ornamentals fade
+Consistent and uniform plants simplify landscape design planning
+90-110 day maturity allows flexible planting windows
+Easy difficulty level suits beginner and experienced growers

Considerations

-Susceptible to cabbage moths and flea beetle damage
-Requires consistent moisture or leaves become tough and bitter
-Prone to splitting or cracking in heavy rain conditions
-Can attract clubroot if planted in acidic, poorly-drained soil

Companion Plants

Marigolds — French marigolds (Tagetes patula) specifically — are the most useful neighbor here: their root secretions suppress soil nematodes, and their scent disrupts aphids scouting for a landing spot, which matters in our zone 7 Georgia gardens where aphid pressure runs from March through November. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop, pulling aphids off the ornamental kale before they get established on it. Sweet alyssum draws parasitic wasps that hunt cabbage worm larvae, so it pulls real weight near any brassica. Keep sunflowers at least 10 feet away — they're allelopathic and their root competition for water is exactly what you don't need when Crane Red is trying to size up through summer heat.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting geraniums

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and asparagus beetles

Lavender

Deters moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Rosemary

Repels cabbage moths and other flying pests with its strong scent

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps

Catmint

Repels aphids, ants, and mosquitoes while being deer resistant

Zinnia

Attracts ladybugs and other beneficial predators that control pests

Keep Apart

Black Walnut Tree

Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill geraniums

Sunflowers

Allelopathic compounds suppress growth of nearby flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Produces natural herbicides that inhibit germination and growth of other plants

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Cabbage worms, harlequin bugs, flea beetles, aphids

Diseases

Clubroot, black rot, powdery mildew

Troubleshooting Crane Red

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Ragged holes chewed through leaves, sometimes down to the midrib, appearing mid-spring through summer

Likely Causes

Imported cabbageworm (Pieris rapae larvae) — the white butterfly you see fluttering around is laying eggs on the undersides of leaves
Flea beetles — leave smaller, scattered shot-holes, especially on young transplants

What to Do

1.Check leaf undersides weekly and hand-pick any pale yellow eggs or green caterpillars
2.Spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) on the foliage every 5–7 days while caterpillars are active — it won't touch anything that isn't eating the leaf
3.Row cover at transplant time blocks both cabbageworms and flea beetles before they establish

Lower leaves turning yellow, then progressing upward; V-shaped yellow-to-brown lesions pointing inward from leaf edges

Likely Causes

Black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris) — a bacterial disease that moves through the vascular tissue; thrives in warm, wet conditions
Overhead watering that keeps foliage wet for extended periods

What to Do

1.Pull and bag affected plants immediately — black rot spreads fast and there's no cure once it's systemic
2.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base only; wet leaves are the main transmission route
3.Don't replant any brassica in that bed for at least 2 seasons; the pathogen persists in soil and crop debris

Stunted plants with yellowing foliage that doesn't respond to watering or fertilizer; roots are swollen and club-shaped when you pull the plant

Likely Causes

Clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) — a soil-borne pathogen that's nearly impossible to eradicate once established
Acidic soil below pH 6.5, which favors spore germination

What to Do

1.Pull and trash affected plants — do not compost them
2.Lime the bed to raise soil pH to 7.0–7.2; NC State Extension notes that clubroot activity drops significantly above pH 7.0
3.Rotate brassicas on a strict 4-year cycle and source transplants from reputable, disease-free seed stock

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Crane Red ornamental kale take to mature?▼

Crane Red typically takes 90-110 days from transplant to reach peak visual appeal and full-sized rosette formation. Growth accelerates in cool-season conditions, with color development becoming more pronounced in temperatures below 50°F. Earlier maturity often occurs in fall growing seasons compared to spring plantings.

Is Crane Red good for beginning gardeners?▼

Yes, Crane Red is excellent for beginners. It's rated as an easy-to-grow variety that tolerates a range of conditions and requires minimal maintenance. The ornamental nature means forgiving growth habits, and it doesn't demand precise cultural conditions unlike some finicky flowering plants. It's very forgiving of minor care variations.

Can you grow Crane Red ornamental kale in containers?▼

Absolutely. Crane Red performs well in containers 12+ inches deep with drainage holes. Use quality potting soil and provide consistent moisture without waterlogging. Container growing offers flexibility for positioning as ornamental focal points on patios, porches, or indoors near bright windows. Space single plants one per 12-14 inch pot.

When should I plant Crane Red ornamental kale?▼

Plant Crane Red for fall/winter interest by sowing seeds or transplants 90-110 days before your first hard frost. This timing allows plants to develop full color as temperatures cool. In mild climates, succession plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous seasonal color. Spring planting is possible but less ideal, as plants bolt before achieving peak ornamental appeal in warm weather.

How many hours of sunlight does Crane Red need?▼

Crane Red requires 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily, thriving in full sun to partial shade conditions. More sunlight generally produces more vibrant, deeply colored foliage. Even in partial shade (4-5 hours), plants develop acceptable color and form, making them versatile for various garden positions and microclimates.

What's the difference between Crane Red and other ornamental kale varieties?▼

Crane Red features distinctive plum-colored centers surrounded by dark green-to-purple outer leaves, creating striking two-tone contrast. The Crane series is known for consistency and uniformity compared to some ornamental kales. Crane Red specifically offers this crimson-to-purple palette, distinct from yellow, white, or solid-green Crane varieties and competing ornamental cabbage lines.