I'm just a bit worried on the condition of scion wood after storing in warmer place outside the fridge.
For now I would just plant your root stock in the spot where they will
be for good and start grafting later when you see growth, a month or
so down the road, [if your scion wood is good]
You can always graft next year or the year after.

Mary, to clarify the bending over part, what I do is cut the stock with the very tip of the pruners so that only 1/2 of the stock gets cut, and then it can be bent over easily (keep a small strip of bark intact to feed the leaves). You need to be careful doing that because its easy to cut too much. Maybe try on some test wood first.

For your grafting plans, the term "field grafting" can be applied to any stock that is in soil, whether potted or not. If you want to do whip and tongue, just stand over a pot and cut up with your knife through the stock in a wedge. Then do similar to the scion, put in a tongue if you want and put together. There is no need to tip them over since it is not hard to work right over them. Just be careful where your fingers are, the knife can go through faster than you think so have no fingers in the way on the other side. You could alternatively do the chip bud technique I outline. Its main advantage is keeping more vigor in the stock which helps with takes.

Scott

Scott, I now understand your chip bud technique. Thanks. If nothing else, this year's attempts at whip-and-tongue and/or chip bud grafting will be good practice. I feel like I'll have less control in working with a vertical surface (pot upright) than if I tip the pot to get a horizontal surface, but I guess I'll find out.

Konrad, the containers are because I'm moving and I want to take the newly grafted trees with me. The trees won't have a permanent home for at least 3 years (I'll repot into larger containers each year). If these grafts fail, I'll buy new trees next year, and in the future I'll try refrigerating scion wood from the beginning. Thanks.