A hydronic growing method which comprises depositing plant matter and a growth substrate within a plant tray 100 which has one or more recesses for holding the plant matter； placing the plant tray on a stacking tray 110 having a base and one or more upwardly projecting walls dimensioned so as to extend above the plant tray's upper surface when it is located on the stacking tray； repeating the steps using second plant and stacking trays, and stacking the second stacking tray on top of the first stacking tray so that a gap g is left between the upper surface of the first plant tray and the base of the second stacking tray； storing the stacked trays for an initial stage growing period in which plant growth can extend into the gap between stacked trays； and unstacking the stacking trays and locating the first and second plant trays on one or more hydroponic flood table(s) for a second stage growing period.
