  We use the degree of the colored Jones knot polynomials to show that the
crossing number of a $(p,q)$-cable of an adequate knot with crossing number $c$
is larger than $q^2\, c$. As an application we determine the crossing number of
$2$-cables of adequate knots. We also determine the crossing number of the
connected sum of any adequate knot with a $2$-cable of an adequate knot.
