From Seed to Harvest: Your First 30 Days with Herbi

Welcome, future urban farmer! You've just unboxed your Herbi, and you're about to embark on one of the most rewarding journeys: growing your own fresh herbs right in your kitchen. The next 30 days will transform you from curious beginner to confident grower. Here's exactly what to expect.

Days 1-3: Setup & Planting

Day 1: Unboxing & Assembly

Your Herbi arrives beautifully crafted and ready to become the centerpiece of your kitchen. Assembly takes about 15 minutes—no tools required, just a bit of curiosity and excitement.

What you'll do:

• Find the perfect spot in your kitchen or living space—no natural light needed thanks to Herbi's built-in LED grow light
• Assemble your Herbi following the simple instructions
• Download the Herbi companion app to guide you through every step
• Fill the water reservoir with fresh water

Pro tip: Choose a location where you'll see your Herbi daily. The more you interact with your plants, the more connected you'll feel to your food. Herbi's LED grow light provides optimal light conditions, so you can place it anywhere—even in spaces without windows.

Days 2-3: Planting Your First Seeds

Now comes the exciting part—planting! Whether you're starting with seeds or pre-grown plants from The Harvest Club, this is where your journey truly begins.

Starting with seeds:

• Place your growing medium in each pod
• Add 2-3 seeds per pod (we'll thin them later)
• Cover the seeds with the included plastic mini dome—this creates the perfect humid microclimate for germination
• Turn on Herbi's LED grow light (yes, even with the dome on!)
• Fill the water reservoir with fresh water—no nutrients needed yet during germination
• Watch the app for your first care reminder

About the mini dome: This transparent cover is your seeds' best friend during their first days. It traps moisture and warmth, creating a mini greenhouse effect that speeds up germination. The LED light can stay on above the dome, providing gentle warmth and preparing your seedlings for growth.

Starting with pre-grown plants: Simply place them in your Herbi pods and skip ahead to week 2. That's the beauty of The Harvest Club—instant gratification!

Days 4-10: The Germination Phase (Under the Dome)

This is the waiting game, but trust us—magic is happening beneath the mini dome. Your seeds are absorbing water, swelling, and preparing to burst into life.

What you'll see:

• Days 4-7: Small green shoots emerging through the growing medium (germination!)
• Days 8-10: Tiny leaves unfurling—your first true leaves appearing under the dome
• Condensation inside the dome—this is perfect! It means your humidity levels are ideal

What you'll do:

• Keep the LED grow light on (12-16 hours per day)
• Keep the mini dome in place—don't remove it yet!
• Watch in wonder as nature does its thing
• Resist the urge to over-fuss—your plants know what to do
• Check that water is touching the bottom of the growing medium, but no refilling needed yet

What's happening: Your seeds are germinating in their protected environment. Herbi uses an NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponic system, but during germination, we keep it simple—just water and the humid dome environment. The reservoir holds plenty of water for this early stage.

Days 11-14: Dome Removal & Transition

Your seedlings have grown strong under the protection of the mini dome, and now it's time for them to spread their leaves! When your seedlings are about 2-3 inches tall with several sets of true leaves, it's time to remove the dome and introduce nutrients.

The big transition:

• Remove the mini dome—your seedlings are ready to grow freely under the LED light
• Add Growth Nutrients to the water reservoir—now your plants need food to fuel their growth
• Thin your seedlings if needed (keep the strongest 1-2 plants per pod)

Herbi uses Nutrient Film Technique, where a shallow stream of nutrient-rich water continuously flows over the plant roots. This provides the perfect balance of water, nutrients, and oxygen—resulting in faster, healthier growth than soil. Unlike passive systems, NFT actively circulates water, which means you won't need frequent refills.

Days 15-20: The Growth Spurt

Welcome to the most exciting phase! Now that your plants are under the LED grow light with nutrients flowing, they're growing faster than you ever imagined possible.

What you'll see:

• Rapid leaf development—new leaves appearing daily
• Plants reaching upward toward the LED light
• Roots visibly growing into the nutrient solution
• Distinct herb characteristics emerging (basil's broad leaves, mint's serrated edges)
• Your kitchen transforming into a green oasis

What you'll do:

• Monitor water levels through the reservoir window
• Maintain the LED light schedule (12-16 hours daily)
• Start planning your first harvest meal
• Take photos to document your progress (trust us, you'll want to look back!)

The science: NFT hydroponic systems like Herbi can grow plants up to 30% faster than traditional soil gardening. The continuous flow of oxygenated, nutrient-rich water means your plants never experience drought stress or nutrient deficiency. You're witnessing the power of optimized growing conditions.

Days 21-30: First Harvest & Beyond

This is it—the moment you've been waiting for. Your herbs are ready for their first harvest, and your kitchen is about to get a serious flavor upgrade.

When to Harvest

Most herbs are ready for their first light harvest around day 21-25. Look for:

• Basil: 6-8 leaves, about 4-6 inches tall
• Lettuce: Outer leaves large enough to pick
• Mint: Multiple stems with 4-6 leaves each
• Parsley: Stems with 3-4 leaf clusters

How to Harvest

The golden rule: harvest from the top, never the bottom. This encourages bushier growth and continuous production.

For leafy herbs (basil, mint):

• Pinch or cut just above a leaf node (where leaves meet the stem)
• Take no more than 1/3 of the plant at once
• The plant will branch out and grow back even stronger

For lettuce and greens:

• Pick outer leaves first, leaving the center to continue growing
• Harvest in the morning for peak flavor
• Use immediately or store in a damp cloth in the fridge

Your First Harvest Meal

There's something profoundly satisfying about eating food you've grown yourself. That first bite of fresh basil on homemade pizza, or that handful of lettuce in your lunchtime salad—it tastes different because it is different. It's fresher, more flavorful, and grown with your own hands.

What Happens Next?

Congratulations—you're now officially an urban farmer! But this is just the beginning. Your Herbi will continue producing fresh herbs for months to come with minimal effort.

Ongoing care with your NFT system:

• Monitor water levels periodically—the NFT system's circulating design means less frequent refills than other hydroponic methods
• The app will remind you when water or nutrients need attention
• Refresh nutrient solution every 2-3 weeks for optimal plant health
• Harvest regularly to encourage bushier, more productive growth
• Enjoy the daily ritual of checking on your plants and watching them thrive

Why NFT means less maintenance: Because Herbi's Nutrient Film Technique continuously circulates water, you avoid the evaporation issues of static water systems. The reservoir capacity is designed to support your plants for extended periods between refills.

Ready to Level Up?

After your first successful 30 days, you might find yourself wanting more variety, faster rotations, or simply the joy of trying new herbs and greens. That's where The Harvest Club comes in.

For €14.95 per month, you get:

• Unlimited access to our premium seed collection
• Pre-grown plants for instant harvests (skip the waiting!)
• Priority access to new varieties
• Expert growing support from our team
• A community of fellow urban farmers

Want to switch from basil to cilantro next week? Done. Curious about trying microgreens? We've got you covered. The Harvest Club makes it effortless to keep your Herbi rotating with fresh, exciting flavors all year round.

The Journey Continues

These first 30 days are just the beginning of your relationship with fresh, homegrown food. You'll discover that growing your own herbs isn't just about saving money or reducing food miles (though it does both). It's about the small, joyful ritual of checking on your plants each morning. It's about the pride of serving a meal garnished with herbs you grew yourself. It's about reconnecting with where your food comes from, one leaf at a time.

Welcome to the Urban Harvesters community. We're growing together.