A method for the production of ingots comprising the following steps - providing an apparatus with -- a chamber to provide a controllable atmosphere, -- at least one means (8, 9) for controlling a temperature field with a temperature gradient in a longitudinal direction in a given volume of growth (V g) inside the chamber, wherein the at least one means for controlling the temperature field comprises at least one top heating apparatus arranged above a support for a seed layer and at least one bottom cooling apparatus arranged below the support for the seed layer, wherein the top heating apparatus is designed to generate a temperature field with a temperature gradient in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, -- the support for the seed layer, the support being movable in the longitudinal direction inside the chamber, and -- a controllable feeding apparatus for providing feedstock, - providing the seed layer on the support, wherein the seed layer defines a cross-sectional area of an ingot to be produced, - moving the support, such that the seed layer is located at a predetermined position within the volume of growth (V g), - generating the temperature field with a predetermined vertical temperature gradient and a controllable lateral temperature gradient within the volume of growth (V g), wherein the temperature gradient in the longitudinal direction is controllable and lies in the range of 100 K/m to 10000 K/m, and the at least one of the top heating apparatus and the bottom cooling apparatus is designed such that the lateral temperature gradient in a volume of growth (V g) is at most 1 K/cm, - providing feedstock on the seed layer by way of the feeding apparatus, -- wherein the feeding of feedstock and the temperature field within the volume of growth (V g) are controlled such that the entire seed layer is covered with a layer of liquid feedstock, - lowering the support while solidifying the layer of liquid feedstock, and - adding more liquid feedstock from the feeding apparatus. - providing an apparatus with -- a chamber to provide a controllable atmosphere, -- at least one means (8, 9) for controlling a temperature field with a temperature gradient in a longitudinal direction in a given volume of growth (V g) inside the chamber, wherein the at least one means for controlling the temperature field comprises at least one top heating apparatus arranged above a support for a seed layer and at least one bottom cooling apparatus arranged below the support for the seed layer, wherein the top heating apparatus is designed to generate a temperature field with a temperature gradient in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, -- the support for the seed layer, the support being movable in the longitudinal direction inside the chamber, and -- a controllable feeding apparatus for providing feedstock, -- a chamber to provide a controllable atmosphere, -- at least one means (8, 9) for controlling a temperature field with a temperature gradient in a longitudinal direction in a given volume of growth (V g) inside the chamber, wherein the at least one means for controlling the temperature field comprises at least one top heating apparatus arranged above a support for a seed layer and at least one bottom cooling apparatus arranged below the support for the seed layer, wherein the top heating apparatus is designed to generate a temperature field with a temperature gradient in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, -- the support for the seed layer, the support being movable in the longitudinal direction inside the chamber, and -- a controllable feeding apparatus for providing feedstock, - providing the seed layer on the support, wherein the seed layer defines a cross-sectional area of an ingot to be produced, - moving the support, such that the seed layer is located at a predetermined position within the volume of growth (V g), - generating the temperature field with a predetermined vertical temperature gradient and a controllable lateral temperature gradient within the volume of growth (V g), wherein the temperature gradient in the longitudinal direction is controllable and lies in the range of 100 K/m to 10000 K/m, and the at least one of the top heating apparatus and the bottom cooling apparatus is designed such that the lateral temperature gradient in a volume of growth (V g) is at most 1 K/cm, - providing feedstock on the seed layer by way of the feeding apparatus, -- wherein the feeding of feedstock and the temperature field within the volume of growth (V g) are controlled such that the entire seed layer is covered with a layer of liquid feedstock, -- wherein the feeding of feedstock and the temperature field within the volume of growth (V g) are controlled such that the entire seed layer is covered with a layer of liquid feedstock, - lowering the support while solidifying the layer of liquid feedstock, and - adding more liquid feedstock from the feeding apparatus.