Author · Latvia
Karlis Vilmanis
I write Vertical Gardening — a notebook of practical, tested gardening notes that I've kept since 2019. 81 articles and counting.
Writing since
2019
Years active
7+
(and counting)
Published articles
81
What I write about
The site is organised into six topic areas: microgreens (the most covered, since that's where I started), indoor gardening, composting, hydroponics, broader gardening, and herbs. The newest additions are short, dated entries in the journal, which I started in 2026 when I moved out of the city.
Where I write from
I live in Latvia, in the Baltic countryside. Most of what I write is climate-neutral — microgreens, composting, indoor gardening — and applies wherever you are. The journal entries are specific to where I actually grow things, which means a USDA zone 5b–6a climate (similar to parts of New England, Scandinavia, and northern Scotland) with cold winters, late frosts, and short shoulder seasons.
How I work
I write what I've actually done, including the failures. Product reviews include what I'd skip. Affiliate links exist on some reviews — they support the site, and where you see one I genuinely use or have used the product. I will not recommend something I haven't tried.
Most-read articles
- Why Is My Grass Not Growing? How to Fix a Slow, Patchy New Lawn
- Starting a Lawn Over an Old Potato Patch: Two Methods, One Summer
- How to Get Rid of Ants Around the House: Every Method, Tested and Ranked
- Microgreens Yield Per Tray: A 12-Variety Pre-Registered Experiment
- Fenugreek Microgreens for Blood Sugar: What the Research Says (and How I Grow Them)