Herb Guide

Call us a little nerdy, but we like to get to know our herbs and salads. Each has an interesting history. Here's some info about what's in our starter kit.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) 

Cultivation
Low-maintenance herb that loves the sun - grows well under the UrbiPod's LED lights. After growing to 10 cm (4 inches), pinch / trim to encourage more growth.

Usage  
Used for sore throat, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system. Believed to have a possible role in prevention of cancer due to being rich in antioxidants.  

History
Called “Joy of the mountain” by ancients Greeks, its popularity in the US began when soldiers returning from WWII brought back with them a taste for the “pizza herb”. 

Many are unaware it is part of the mint family, as there are between 3 to 4 dozen species.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) 

Cultivation
Harvest aggressively to stimulate more growth.

Usage
Fly repellent. Crush a leaf and rub on skin as mosquito repellent. Historically used as a sedative, an aid to digestion, bath vinegar or antiseptic. 

It is one of the few herbs that increases its flavour when cooked. For best results add Basil from your UrbiPod during the final step of cooking.

Cress (Lepidium sativum) 

Cultivation
Growing cress in the UrbiPod is very easy. Cress shoots appear within 3-4 days and a full crop is ready to harvest after 7 days. Enjoy whilst fresh. Importantly, cress will not grow back, so the cultivation process involving the coir and pod must start again. 

Usage
As a medicinal plant, it is considered to have antiscorbutic, diuretic and cooling properties. 

History
Cultivation of this species, which is native to Southwest Asia (perhaps Persia) and which spread many centuries ago to western Europe, is very old. Xenophon (400 _BC) mentions that the Persians used to eat this plant even before bread was known.

Rocket (Argula) 

Cultivation
Fast growing. In general, arugula grows to about 60-90cm (2-3 feet) in height with creamy-white edible flowers. In the UrbiPod its leaves can be ready for harvest within 15 days of sowing the seed.

Usage
It is a very low-calorie plant - 100g of fresh leaves contains just 25 calories, while containing many vital phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals. 

History
The proper name is Arugula and is one of the nutritious green-leafy vegetables of Mediterranean origin.