A hydroponic growing system , comprising: a base configured to support one or more components; a gutter assembly removably attached to the base , the gutter assembly configured to manage flow of a liquid solution to the one or more components of the hydroponic growing system ; at least one growing trough movably engaged to the gutter assembly and configured to hold one or more plants, the at least one growing trough movable along a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid solution in the at least one growing trough ; and an automation assembly movably engaged with the at least one growing trough , the automation assembly configured to move the at least one trough from a first position on the gutter assembly to a second position on the gutter assembly , wherein the automation assembly includes at least one automation component and at least one actuator component , the at least one automation component removably attached to the at least one actuator component triggering the at least one actuator component to automatically move at least one elongated member supporting one or more engagement devices between a first member position to a second member position, wherein the at least one elongated member includes at least one gap portion component configured to extend a spacing distance between two or more growing troughs , characterized in that the gap portion component including a retractable element that moves between a first retractable position and a second retractable position, and that the at least one growing trough is movable in a harvest direction by the spacing distance , the spacing distance gradually increasing in the harvest direction based on the retractable element of the at least one gap portion moving between the first retractable position and the second retractable position. a base configured to support one or more components; a gutter assembly removably attached to the base , the gutter assembly configured to manage flow of a liquid solution to the one or more components of the hydroponic growing system ; at least one growing trough movably engaged to the gutter assembly and configured to hold one or more plants, the at least one growing trough movable along a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid solution in the at least one growing trough ; and an automation assembly movably engaged with the at least one growing trough , the automation assembly configured to move the at least one trough from a first position on the gutter assembly to a second position on the gutter assembly , wherein the automation assembly includes at least one automation component and at least one actuator component , the at least one automation component removably attached to the at least one actuator component triggering the at least one actuator component to automatically move at least one elongated member supporting one or more engagement devices between a first member position to a second member position, wherein the at least one elongated member includes at least one gap portion component configured to extend a spacing distance between two or more growing troughs , characterized in that the gap portion component including a retractable element that moves between a first retractable position and a second retractable position, and that the at least one growing trough is movable in a harvest direction by the spacing distance , the spacing distance gradually increasing in the harvest direction based on the retractable element of the at least one gap portion moving between the first retractable position and the second retractable position. <EOS>