A tray for a vertical growing system for growing plants having opposed first and second side walls, a first open end and second open end opposed to the first end defining a perimeter of the tray; and a raised region disposed within the perimeter of the tray wherein at least one side wall is configured with a downward sloping outer face to direct fluid from the tray to an adjacent gutter. The tray forms one side of an enclosed plenum which directs forced air to growing mediums supported by each tray via holes formed in each tray. A bottom side of the tray includes ribs and valleys exposed to an interior of the plenum where such ribs and valleys contribute to substantially constant air velocities emanating from each hole in each tray along an entire length of the plenum.