diff --git a/docs/content/reference/pgo_create_postgrescluster.md b/docs/content/reference/pgo_create_postgrescluster.md
index aac38782..4c0a55ec 100644
--- a/docs/content/reference/pgo_create_postgrescluster.md
+++ b/docs/content/reference/pgo_create_postgrescluster.md
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ pgo create postgrescluster CLUSTER_NAME [flags]
 ### Examples
 
 ```
-# Create a postgrescluster
-pgo create postgrescluster hippo
+# Create a postgrescluster with Postgres 15
+pgo create postgrescluster hippo --pg-major-version 15
 
 ```
 ### Example output
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ postgresclusters/hippo created
 ### Options
 
 ```
-  -h, --help   help for postgrescluster
+  -h, --help                   help for postgrescluster
+      --pg-major-version int   Set the Postgres major version
 ```
 
 ### Options inherited from parent commands
diff --git a/internal/cmd/create.go b/internal/cmd/create.go
index f9a414da..9d8d73e2 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/create.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/create.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
@@ -61,8 +62,12 @@ func newCreateClusterCommand(config *internal.Config) *cobra.Command {
 
 	cmd.Args = cobra.ExactArgs(1)
 
-	cmd.Example = internal.FormatExample(`# Create a postgrescluster
-pgo create postgrescluster hippo
+	var pgMajorVersion int
+	cmd.Flags().IntVar(&pgMajorVersion, "pg-major-version", 0, "Set the Postgres major version")
+	cobra.CheckErr(cmd.MarkFlagRequired("pg-major-version"))
+
+	cmd.Example = internal.FormatExample(`# Create a postgrescluster with Postgres 15
+pgo create postgrescluster hippo --pg-major-version 15
 
 ### Example output	
 postgresclusters/hippo created`)
@@ -82,7 +87,7 @@ postgresclusters/hippo created`)
 			return err
 		}
 
-		cluster, err := generateUnstructuredClusterYaml(clusterName)
+		cluster, err := generateUnstructuredClusterYaml(clusterName, strconv.Itoa(pgMajorVersion))
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -104,7 +109,7 @@ postgresclusters/hippo created`)
 
 // generateUnstructuredClusterYaml takes a name and returns a PostgresCluster
 // in the unstructured format.
-func generateUnstructuredClusterYaml(name string) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error) {
+func generateUnstructuredClusterYaml(name, pgMajorVersion string) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error) {
 	var cluster unstructured.Unstructured
 	err := yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(fmt.Sprintf(`
 apiVersion: postgres-operator.crunchydata.com/v1beta1
@@ -112,7 +117,7 @@ kind: PostgresCluster
 metadata:
   name: %s
 spec:
-  postgresVersion: 14
+  postgresVersion: %s
   instances:
   - dataVolumeClaimSpec:
       accessModes:
@@ -131,7 +136,7 @@ spec:
             resources:
               requests:
                 storage: 1Gi
-`, name)), &cluster)
+`, name, pgMajorVersion)), &cluster)
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/internal/cmd/create_test.go b/internal/cmd/create_test.go
index 593ab703..d8c74911 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/create_test.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/create_test.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ spec:
       resources:
         requests:
           storage: 1Gi
-  postgresVersion: 14
+  postgresVersion: 15
 `
 
-	u, err := generateUnstructuredClusterYaml("hippo")
+	u, err := generateUnstructuredClusterYaml("hippo", "15")
 	assert.NilError(t, err)
 
 	assert.Assert(t, cmp.MarshalMatches(
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/backup/08--backup-with-just-trigger.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/backup/08--backup-with-just-trigger.yaml
index 9eb4bf1a..687f22b4 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/backup/08--backup-with-just-trigger.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/backup/08--backup-with-just-trigger.yaml
@@ -1,18 +1,20 @@
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
-- script: |
+- script: |    
     pgbackrest_backup_annotation() {
       kubectl get --namespace "${NAMESPACE}" postgrescluster/backup-cluster \
         --output 'go-template={{ index .metadata.annotations "postgres-operator.crunchydata.com/pgbackrest-backup" }}'
     }
 
     PRIOR=$(pgbackrest_backup_annotation)
+    # ensure annotation timestamp will be different
+    sleep 1
     RESULT=$(kubectl-pgo --namespace "${NAMESPACE}" backup backup-cluster)
     CURRENT=$(pgbackrest_backup_annotation)
 
     if [ "${CURRENT}" = "${PRIOR}" ]; then
-      printf 'Expected annotation to change, got %q' "${CURRENT}"
+      printf 'Expected annotation to change, got %q\n' "${CURRENT}"
       exit 1
     fi
 
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/backup/11--backup-with-new-flag.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/backup/11--backup-with-new-flag.yaml
index 5c418a92..43f61904 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/backup/11--backup-with-new-flag.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/backup/11--backup-with-new-flag.yaml
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ commands:
     echo "RESULT from taking backup: ${RESULT}"
 
     if [ "${STATUS-0}" -eq 0 ]; then
-      printf 'Expected error, got none'
+      printf 'Expected error, got none\n'
       exit 1
     fi
 
     if [[ "${RESULT,,}" != *conflict* || "${RESULT}" != *repoName* ]]; then
-      printf 'Expected conflict on repoName, got %q' "${RESULT}"
+      printf 'Expected conflict on repoName, got %q\n' "${RESULT}"
       exit 1
     fi
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/00--create_cluster.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/00--create_cluster.yaml
index 392e894e..c3420348 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/00--create_cluster.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/00--create_cluster.yaml
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
-- script: kubectl-pgo --namespace $NAMESPACE create postgrescluster kuttl-create-cluster
+- script: kubectl-pgo --namespace $NAMESPACE create postgrescluster --pg-major-version 15 kuttl-create-cluster
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/00-assert.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/00-assert.yaml
index 40b260c0..f3fe2512 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/00-assert.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/00-assert.yaml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ spec:
           requests:
             storage: 1Gi
       replicas: 1
-  postgresVersion: 14
+  postgresVersion: 15
 status:
   instances:
     - name: "00"
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/01--check_version_validation.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/01--check_version_validation.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..44fac127
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/create/01--check_version_validation.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+---
+apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
+kind: TestStep
+commands:
+  - script: |
+     # Verify the error when the Postgres version given is too low.
+     TOO_LOW=$(kubectl-pgo create postgrescluster --pg-major-version=1 toolow 2>&1)
+     if [[ "${TOO_LOW}" != "Error:"*"Invalid value"* ]]; then
+      printf 'Expected invalid value error, got %q\n' "${TOO_LOW}"
+      exit 1
+     fi
+
+     # Verify the error when the Postgres version given is too high.
+     TOO_HIGH=$(kubectl-pgo create postgrescluster --pg-major-version=100 toohigh 2>&1)
+     if [[ "${TOO_HIGH}" != "Error:"*"Invalid value"* ]]; then
+      printf 'Expected invalid value error, got %q\n' "${TOO_HIGH}"
+      exit 1
+     fi
+
+     # Verify the error when the Postgres version is not an integer.
+     NOT_INT=$(kubectl-pgo create postgrescluster --pg-major-version=15.1 notint 2>&1)
+     if [[ "${NOT_INT}" != "Error: invalid argument"* ]]; then
+      printf 'Expected invalid argument error, got %q\n' "${NOT_INT}"
+      exit 1
+     fi
+
+     # Verify the error when the Postgres version is not a number.
+     NOT_NUM=$(kubectl-pgo create postgrescluster --pg-major-version=x notnum 2>&1)
+     if [[ "${NOT_NUM}" != "Error: invalid argument"* ]]; then
+      printf 'Expected invalid argument error, got %q\n' "${NOT_NUM}"
+      exit 1
+     fi
+
+     # Verify the error when the Postgres version flag is not provided.
+     MISSING=$(kubectl-pgo create postgrescluster missing 2>&1)
+     if [[ "${MISSING}" != "Error: required flag"* ]]; then
+      printf 'Expected required flag error, got %q\n' "${MISSING}"
+      exit 1
+     fi
+
+     # Verify the error when the Postgres version value is empty.
+     NOT_SET=$(kubectl-pgo create postgrescluster --pg-major-version=  notset 2>&1)
+     if [[ "${NOT_SET}" != "Error: invalid argument"* ]]; then
+      printf 'Expected invalid argument error, got %q\n' "${NOT_SET}"
+      exit 1
+     fi
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/delete-cluster/00--cluster.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/delete-cluster/00--cluster.yaml
index 6b6c7edd..7dc158e3 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/delete-cluster/00--cluster.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/delete-cluster/00--cluster.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: PostgresCluster
 metadata:
   name: delete-cluster
 spec:
-  postgresVersion: 14
+  postgresVersion: 15
   instances:
     - name: instance1
       dataVolumeClaimSpec:
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/restore/00--cluster.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/restore/00--cluster.yaml
index 873d8cd8..bff771f7 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/restore/00--cluster.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/restore/00--cluster.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ kind: PostgresCluster
 metadata:
   name: restore-cluster
 spec:
-  postgresVersion: 14
+  postgresVersion: 15
   instances:
     - name: instance1
       dataVolumeClaimSpec:
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/00--create_cluster.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/00--create_cluster.yaml
index 327255f7..10b2f33d 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/00--create_cluster.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/00--create_cluster.yaml
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestStep
 commands:
-- script: kubectl-pgo --namespace $NAMESPACE create postgrescluster kuttl-support-cluster
+- script: kubectl-pgo --namespace $NAMESPACE create postgrescluster --pg-major-version 15 kuttl-support-cluster
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/00-assert.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/00-assert.yaml
index a0c3f91c..b935a0f3 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/00-assert.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/00-assert.yaml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ spec:
           requests:
             storage: 1Gi
       replicas: 1
-  postgresVersion: 14
+  postgresVersion: 15
 status:
   instances:
     - name: "00"
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/30--create_cluster_with_monitoring.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/30--create_cluster_with_monitoring.yaml
index d16b9b2d..dbab9892 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/30--create_cluster_with_monitoring.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/30--create_cluster_with_monitoring.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ kind: PostgresCluster
 metadata:
   name: kuttl-support-monitoring-cluster
 spec:
-  postgresVersion: 14
+  postgresVersion: 15
   instances:
     - dataVolumeClaimSpec:
         accessModes: [ReadWriteOnce]
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/30-assert.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/30-assert.yaml
index 83f1f5fd..771e07f3 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/30-assert.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/support-export/30-assert.yaml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ spec:
           requests:
             storage: 1Gi
       replicas: 1
-  postgresVersion: 14
+  postgresVersion: 15
 status:
   instances:
     - name: "00"
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/kuttl-test.yaml b/testing/kuttl/kuttl-test.yaml
index 6e85360d..7d923e87 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/kuttl-test.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/kuttl-test.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
 kind: TestSuite
 testDirs:
 - testing/kuttl/e2e/
-timeout: 180
+timeout: 300
 parallel: 2
 # by default kuttl will run in a generated namespace to override
 # that functionality simply uncomment the line below and replace