These are the fanciest cabbages you'll ever see. Most won't recognize them as Brassicas, but they grow in the same conditions. Brassica oleraceae are a fantastic cool season, fall flowering garden and bouquet staple.They look like a cabbage plant when small, but as they stem up and stretch, their true colors show through. They are long lasting, strong plants in a fall garden or bouquet. They are very frost tolerant and a great way to bulk up those late season bouquets.

For fall blooms, these need to be planted in May to June, depending on your zone. Harden off plants upon arrival. Do your best to avoid planting them in the middle of a heat wave, though these plants are surprisingly rugged and will likely handle any transplant if they have enough water. Soil should be fertile and well drained for all Brassicas. Growers in warmer areas will often plant in the fall for late winter/early spring harvest. Cool weather is necessary to get the colors to develop.

Spacing flowering kale 4-6 inches apart will give it a chance to offer its neighbors some support. Because these are not pinched, trellis netting or tighter spacing can offer support to the stems as they stretch. They can reach 2-3 ft in height. Brassicas love water, particularly when getting established, and then require regular watering to truly thrive and develop the color growers wish to see. Flea beetles and cabbage moths will chew unsightly holes in the foliage, and roots could become damaged by cabbage root maggots. There are sprays that can deal with these pests but a more ecologically friendly way is to grow young kale under floating row cover or insect exclusion netting. Diseases can be avoided by using crop rotation strategies and by keeping the bed cleared of debris (like stripped leaves).

Cut stems when they reach about 2 feet in length and the 'flower' head is 4–6 inches across, colored up, or at your desired flower size. Remove all but one or two layers of green leaves around the 'flower', leaving the colored center. Dunk the heads in cool water to remove any field debris. Place in cool water. Change water regularly for long lasting blooms.