The Kostya vertical farming system, developed by Vesela Motika, is at the heart of our indoor farm in Zagreb. This modular and highly adaptable system is designed for a wide range of applications, including microgreens, herbs, cuttings, and seedlings.
Built on the classical Danish trolley framework, an industry standard in horticulture, the system is globally recognized and found in farmers’ markets across countless countries. Through extensive research, development, and trials over recent years, weve optimized Kostya with high-end LED luminaires, available in two specialized wavelengths to maximize growth efficiency.
The system employs CC trays that rest on its shelves, with smaller trays easily integrated within these CC trays for added flexibility. The basic unit measures 135 cm x 56.5 cm x 190 cm (LxWxH), offering a compact yet highly efficient footprint. Additionally, the system supports various tray configurations, including those from seeders, ensuring seamless integration and versatility.
We also offer custom-made solutions, tailored to meet specific needs and help growers achieve their unique farming goals.
Here are two blog posts with more info about Kostya Modular Vertical System
The Most Economical Vertical Farming Solution: Meet Kostya, Built by Farmers for Farmers
The Kostya vertical farming system overview
Kostya Modular Vertical Farming System: Key Specifications
General Features
Modular Design:
Built on a Danish trolley framework with standard dimensions of 56.5 cm x 135 cm, ensuring compatibility and scalability.
Starts with 3 shelves per trolley and can be expanded to 6 shelves, adapting to operational needs.
Configurable into islands with 4 Danish trolleys, creating easily operable units.
These modular islands can be combined into larger setups, offering seamless scalability for any farming operation.
Compact Size:
Each shelf provides 0.763m of cultivation area.
A fully stacked trolley with 6 shelves offers a total of 4.578m of cultivation space.
Modular islands of 4 trolleys provide an impressive 18.312m of cultivation area, maximizing output while minimizing footprint.
Customizable:
Ideal for a variety of applications, including growing, germination, or propagation, to suit diverse farming needs.
Seedling Capacity Per CC Tray
Each Danish trolley shelf can hold a single CC tray, and the total seedling capacity depends on the number of holes in the tray. Below are the capacities for different tray configurations on a single shelf:
Each shelf holds up to four containers, and the combinations per shelf are as follows:
24 holes per container: 96 seedlings
40 holes per container: 160 seedlings
60 holes per container: 240 seedlings
84 holes per container: 336 seedlings
104 holes per container: 416 seedlings
160 holes per container: 640 seedlings
170 holes per container: 680 seedlings
209 holes per container: 836 seedlings
Herbs Grow Options
Tray Configurations:
18 x 9 cm pots.
12 x 10 cm pots.
8 x 12 cm pots.
Each growing floor with a CC Tray holds 5 Carry Trays. The capacity per CC Tray is:
- 90 x 9 cm pots
- 60 x 10 cm pots
- 40 x 12 cm pots
Scaling Across the System
For setups with multiple shelves (e.g., 6 shelves per trolley), you can multiply the capacity per tray to calculate total production potential.
LED luminaires specification
Possible Growing Scenarios
Microgreens Options
Option 1: 3 Grow Levels
Setup:
3 growing levels.
3 CC Trays (Dimensions: 1260 mm x 555 mm).
4 x 20×10 trays per growing level (Dimensions: 508 mm x 254 mm).
1 x 35W LED luminaire per grow level.
Electricity Usage:
Total consumption: 105W per hour.
Option 2: 4 Grow Levels
Setup:
4 growing levels.
4 CC Trays (Dimensions: 1260 mm x 555 mm).
4 x 20×10 trays per growing level (Dimensions: 508 mm x 254 mm).
1 x 35W LED luminaire per grow level.
Electricity Usage:
Total consumption: 140W per hour.
Option 3: 6 Grow Levels
Setup:
6 growing levels.
6 CC Trays (Dimensions: 1260 mm x 555 mm).
4 x 20×10 trays per growing level (Dimensions: 508 mm x 254 mm).
2 x 35W LED luminaires per grow level (power supply adapted for microgreens, with possible 50% reduction in electricity consumption).
Electricity Usage:
Total consumption: 210W per hour.
