heeling in?

It's basically planting them temporarily in a patch in the garden/trough/pot so the roots are protected and don't dry out. They won't grow yet because they're dormant so you've got plenty of time to prepare for them at the allotment.

Heeling in is the procedure of digging a small trench in a spare bit of ground, placing the roots of the bushes in there and covering, 'heeling in' the soil to ensure the bushes will not rock in any wind and have good contact with the soil.   This procedure is used for 'storing' plants untill they can be planted in their permanent position.      

Cheers,     Tony.