Hybrid

Crane White

Brassica oleracea

Photo: Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection.; Johnson & Stokes. · Wikimedia Commons · (Public domain)

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 White in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Crane White · Zones 6–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing18-24 inches

SoilWell-draining loam, slightly acidic to neutral

WaterRegular, consistent moisture without waterlogging

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorCreamy white with pink blush and green outer leaves

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 White takes 90-110 days to flower, so timing matters more than with faster crops. In zone 7, start seeds indoors in late February and transplant in April after your last frost; a second sow in late March can extend your display window by 3-4 weeks. Don't push a third round too late into summer — daytime highs above 85°F stress young brassica transplants badly and tend to produce tight, undersized flower heads. For fall color, back-calculate from your first frost date and start that sow indoors in early July.

Complete Growing Guide

Extend the flower production season with ornamental kale. The Crane series is consistent, uniform, and provides a range of colors. Crane White has creamy white centers with a blush of pink surrounded by green outer leaves. Also know as flowering kale and ornamental cabbage. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Crane White 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 White 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

Store Crane White ornamental kale in the refrigerator at 32-40°F with high humidity (95%+) to maintain crispness and vibrant coloring; counter storage is not recommended due to rapid wilting. Shelf life is 2-3 weeks refrigerated. For preservation, consider air-drying the heads by hanging in a cool, dry location for dried arrangements that last months. Alternatively, freeze whole or chopped heads in freezer bags for up to 3 months, though texture changes make them best for non-culinary display purposes. Pressing and drying individual leaves between paper towels creates lasting botanical specimens.

History & Origin

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

Origin: W. Europe

Advantages

+Creamy white and pink centers provide striking ornamental appeal in fall gardens
+90-110 day maturity extends flower production season significantly longer than typical crops
+Easy difficulty level makes Crane White accessible for beginner and experienced gardeners
+Uniform, consistent growth across plants ensures predictable landscape appearance and spacing
+Green outer leaves create attractive color contrast with delicate inner coloring

Considerations

-Pink blush coloring may fade or become less vibrant in excessive heat
-Brassicas attract cabbage moths and other pests requiring regular monitoring or treatment
-Dense foliage promotes fungal diseases in humid conditions without adequate air circulation

Companion Plants

Alyssum and nasturtiums do real work here — alyssum draws in parasitic wasps that target aphid colonies and cabbageworm eggs, while nasturtiums pull aphids off the brassica onto themselves, where you can deal with them in one spot. Marigolds (Tagetes species) planted at 12-inch intervals around the bed add enough scent disruption to slow egg-laying by diamondback moths. Black walnut and eucalyptus are the ones to avoid: both release allelopathic compounds into the soil that suppress root uptake, and with a 90-110 day crop like Crane White, you can't afford to lose the first 3-4 weeks to stunted establishment.

Plant Together

Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles

Catmint

Repels ants, aphids, and rodents while attracting beneficial pollinators

Petunias

Natural pest deterrent against hornworms and aphids

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and provide complementary height structure

Chives

Repel aphids and other soft-bodied insects with sulfur compounds

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Lavender

Deters pests with strong fragrance and attracts pollinators

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic chemicals that suppress nearby plant growth

Large Sunflowers

Compete aggressively for nutrients and water, create excessive shade

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Cabbage worms, flea beetles, aphids, diamondback moths

Diseases

Clubroot, black rot, powdery mildew

Troubleshooting Crane White

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

Ragged holes chewed through leaves, sometimes leaving just the veins, appearing in the first few weeks after transplant

Likely Causes

Imported cabbageworm (Pieris rapae) — eggs laid by white butterflies you'll see hovering around the plant
Diamondback moth larvae (Plutella xylostella) — smaller caterpillars, often on the undersides of leaves

What to Do

1.Hand-pick caterpillars in the early morning when they're easier to spot
2.Spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) every 5-7 days while larvae are active — it only kills caterpillars, not beneficials
3.Cover transplants with row cover immediately after planting to block egg-laying adults

Tiny, irregular shothole pits across young leaves, especially on seedlings under 4 inches tall

Likely Causes

Flea beetles (Phyllotreta species) — small, shiny, fast-jumping beetles that feed heavily on stressed transplants

What to Do

1.Keep transplants well-watered so they grow through the damage fast — flea beetles rarely kill a vigorous plant
2.Apply kaolin clay as a deterrent spray before populations build up
3.Use yellow sticky traps nearby to monitor pressure and decide if a pyrethrin spray is worth it

Leaves yellowing and wilting despite adequate water, with stunted, distorted roots that look like tangled lumps when pulled

Likely Causes

Clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) — a soil-borne pathogen that persists for 20+ years in infected ground
Planting in acidic soil below pH 6.5, which makes clubroot pressure significantly worse

What to Do

1.Pull and bag affected plants immediately — don't compost them
2.Lime the bed to raise pH to 7.0-7.2; clubroot is far less active in near-neutral soil
3.Rotate away from all brassicas in that bed for at least 4 years and source transplants from disease-free stock

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Crane White ornamental kale last after harvest?▼

With proper refrigeration at 32-40°F and high humidity, Crane White maintains its appearance and color for 2-3 weeks. For longer-lasting displays, air-dry the entire head in a cool location where it will last several months as a decorative arrangement. Keep away from ethylene-producing fruits to prevent premature yellowing.

Is ornamental kale good for beginner gardeners?▼

Yes, Crane White is excellent for beginners. It's marked as 'Easy' difficulty, requires only 4-6 hours of sunlight, and tolerates partial shade. The plants are cold-hardy, disease-resistant, and produce striking color displays without special care. It's forgiving and rewarding for new gardeners.

Can you grow Crane White ornamental kale in containers?▼

Yes, Crane White grows well in containers 12-18 inches deep with well-draining potting mix. This method works especially well in regions with limited garden space. Container-grown plants benefit from consistent moisture and benefit from being positioned in 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily.

When should I plant Crane White ornamental kale?▼

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last fall/winter frost, or direct sow after frost danger passes. Crane White actually prefers cooler weather and develops best color in fall and winter. In mild climates, you can extend the growing season by successive plantings every 2-3 weeks.

What colors does the Crane series produce?▼

The Crane series offers multiple colors including white, pink, red, and purple varieties. Crane White specifically features creamy white centers with a pink blush surrounded by green outer leaves. All varieties in the series are consistent and uniform, making them excellent for decorative gardens.

How much space does Crane White need to grow?▼

Plant spacing of 18-24 inches between plants ensures adequate air circulation and room for full head development. Proper spacing prevents disease issues and allows each plant to develop its characteristic color pattern. Closer spacing results in smaller heads, while wider spacing produces larger, more dramatic displays.