By the Genier's Team: Updated June 2026
The Urban Cultivator: Fresh, Organic Greens Year-Round from Your Vernon Kitchen
By Natalie Appleton
The Urban Cultivator indoor garden appliance grows fresh, organic herbs and microgreens directly in your kitchen — no outdoor space, no soil management, no guesswork. Here in Vernon and across the Okanagan, we already enjoy one of Canada's best growing seasons, but the Urban Cultivator extends that access to fresh, local produce right through the winter.
It is one of the most talked-about kitchen appliances Okanagan homeowners have been asking about, and Genier's is proud to carry it. Here is what the Urban Cultivator does, how it works, and why it has found its way into home and restaurant kitchens around the world.
Quick Answer: The Urban Cultivator is a fully automated indoor gardening appliance that grows herbs, microgreens, and sprouts year-round inside your kitchen. It uses automated watering, controlled lighting, and seed flats to produce a pound of greens in under two weeks — no soil knowledge or outdoor space required. It is available in a built-in under-counter model and a freestanding kitchen island design.
- What it is: a fully automated indoor herb and microgreen growing appliance designed for home and commercial kitchens.
- Why it matters: greens harvested seconds before eating retain more nutrients and flavour than produce that has travelled days to reach a store shelf.
- What you can do now: browse the Urban Cultivator online and visit the Vernon showroom to see a display unit in person.
- When to ask an advisor: if you are considering the built-in model, confirm your cabinet dimensions before purchasing — it installs in a standard dishwasher-sized opening.
- Cost notes: the appliance pays for itself over time through reduced grocery spending on fresh herbs and greens, according to the manufacturer. Timeline varies by household use.
Why the Urban Cultivator Produces More Nutritious Greens
Harvesting greens seconds before eating them — rather than days after they were cut at a farm — preserves nutrients that degrade quickly after cutting. Research published in journals including the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that certain vitamins in leafy greens begin to decline within hours of harvest. Urban Cultivator allows you to cut your dill, arugula, pea shoots, or basil at the moment you need them — which is about as close to the source as a home cook can get.
Seeds are non-GMO and grown without sprays or chemicals, so you know exactly what went into your food. Your dill and lentil shoots preserve their nutrients, taste, and texture right up to the moment they reach the plate.
Easier Than Outdoor Gardening
Unlike outdoor gardening — which requires time, tending, and a little luck from the weather — the Urban Cultivator handles the work for you. When people visit the Vernon showroom to see the display unit, one of the first things they ask is how it works. The answer is straightforward: you order flats of seeds, anything from arugula and kale to lettuce and thyme, either soilless or with a growing medium. Watering is automated. In less than two weeks, you have a pound of broccoli or pea shoots ready for dinner.
The environmental case is also real. When your herbs travel a few feet rather than the average 2,500 kilometres Canadian food travels from farm to plate, your carbon footprint drops meaningfully. The manufacturer also notes the appliance can pay for itself in reduced grocery costs within three years, depending on how much you grow — though this will vary by household.
Two Designs to Suit Your Kitchen
The Urban Cultivator comes in two configurations. The Residential model installs under your existing countertop in a standard dishwasher-sized opening, giving you a built-in look with a choice of wood block surfaces and glass door finishes. The Commercial model is designed for restaurant kitchens and higher-volume growing. Both sit roughly the same footprint as an under-counter beverage fridge.
Wood options include maple, ash, oak, lyptus, and walnut. Glass door options include clear, half-tone, dark tint, and frosted. Custom branding is also available for commercial users.
Urban Cultivator at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Growing cycle | Under two weeks for most herbs and microgreens |
| Watering | Fully automated |
| Seeds | Non-GMO, no sprays or chemicals; soilless or with growing medium |
| Typical yield | Approximately one pound of greens per cycle |
| Installation | Built-in (dishwasher-sized opening) or freestanding island |
| Wood options | Maple, ash, oak, lyptus, walnut |
| Glass options | Clear, half-tone, dark tint, frosted |
| Origin | Surrey, BC — a Canadian-made product |
FAQ
> Can I see the Urban Cultivator in person before buying?
Yes. Genier's Vernon showroom has a display unit so you can see the appliance in a real kitchen context before committing. It is one of the few places in the BC Interior where you can see one live. Contact our team to confirm showroom availability before your visit.
> What can I grow in the Urban Cultivator?
The Urban Cultivator is designed for herbs and microgreens — arugula, kale, pea shoots, broccoli, basil, dill, thyme, lettuce, radish, cilantro, and many others. Seeds are available as flats and ordered directly from Urban Cultivator. Most varieties are ready to harvest in under two weeks.
> Is the Urban Cultivator hard to maintain?
No. Watering is automated, and the growing cycle is designed to require minimal intervention. You load the seed flats, set the controls, and harvest when ready. Cleaning between cycles is straightforward. It is genuinely easier than maintaining a windowsill herb garden.
See the Urban Cultivator at Genier's Vernon
For all the latest home and kitchen appliances that make life better — and the best selection in the BC Interior — visit Genier's Appliances in Vernon. Browse the Urban Cultivator and indoor gardening accessories online, or contact our Vernon team to plan your visit.
Since 1957, Genier's Appliances has helped Vernon, Kelowna, Kamloops, and Okanagan homeowners choose appliances with confidence. Visit the Vernon showroom or contact our team for practical, no-pressure guidance.
Sources: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry — Nutrient retention in fresh produce post-harvest; Urban Cultivator — Company overview