Master Gardener Practice Exam

Two strawberry planting stock types to compare are bare-root and plug plants. Bare-root plants are shipped dormant with their roots exposed and no soil around them. They’re readily available and generally less expensive because they require less nursery time and lighter shipping. The trade-off is they need careful handling to prevent drying out and they typically have more transplant work and potential for transplant shock as roots resume growth after planting. Plug plants come in small media-filled plugs, carrying a bit of growing medium and a more established root system. They cost more—often about twice as much—because of the nursery care and the contained rootball, but they generally transplant with less root disturbance, establish faster, and arrive cleaner with less soil/weed debris. So the statement reflects the practical trade-off: bare-root are cheaper and readily available, while plug plants are more expensive but offer reduced transplant shock and cleaner arrival.