[nickiit2003]

I've taken delivery of:

raspberry canes (autumn bliss and all gold)
blackcurrant bare root (ben connan)
gooseberry bare root (invicta)
redcurrant bare root (not sure what variety)
bluberry plants in pot (top hat)
rhubarb crowns (champagne autumn planting)

and this perrenials: eryngium, kniphofia, echinacea, lupin, liatris, gypsophila, physalis, hollyhock, delphinium and aquilegia. these all look like roots.

I've had these delivered over the past week but due to health reasons couldn't get them into the ground, feeling bit better today but there's snow on the ground. Expecting it to thaw (already started) and the temp about 4 degrees during the day but dipping below zero at night so....

what do I do? would it be best to plant them out in the next frost? plant them in containers until I can get them out in spring or leave them in their packaging in the potting shed where I have them the now?

[Trillium]

If you're up to it, plant them out now. Snow doesn't mean that the ground is frozen. you still have time before it does.

If your health isn't so great, then pot up in individual containers as the plants will still set out new roots through cool weather but not put out top growth. Don't leave them in packages which will accumulate moisture and rot the roots, or, let them dry out.

My preferred method is to pot them up, dig a temporary trench somewhere in the garden, drop in the pots, then push up soil against the pots. this way they have some frost protection for the roots. Then plant out in spring

[nickiit2003]

the blueberries were going in pots as was some of the raspberries

was intending on trying the rhubarb in containers also.

would I get away without dropping the pots into the ground? I have plenty fleece that I could put round the pots and they would be placed in a sheltered part of my garden. Don't feel up to digging a pit the now but I may soon (thinkin everything else will leave me knackered the now)

have the ground prepped for plants anyway so it wouldn't take much to plant them out.

many thanks for a speedy response, first garden and working on a tight budget so don't want to lose to many plants.

[Trillium]

For winter you can pot up the rhubarb, but in spring I highly recommend they go into the ground as the roots will grow too huge for pots and will limit top growth.

The pots needn't go in the ground. The sheltered area sounds good for winter and some fleece topping should give them a bit extra protection. The plants all sound like hardy varieties but with the last 2 very cold UK winters, its wise to take a bit extra precaution with the fleece until you can plant out.

[Yorkie]

Please could you edit your forum profile to show your location, nickiit?  Just click your username and follow the right links.

I don't disagree with Trillium's advice but it is always useful to know where people are as it can impact on specific advice given.

[nickiit2003]

have now done Yorkie - Central Scotland 

[sunshineband]

Best to get tem in the ground if you possibly can, as the weather will proably not get that much warmer in the coming weeks (or the pots as mentioned of course)

[nickiit2003]

yay! heavy rain and a thaw meant I got everything planted out today. well chuffed