I don't know about multiflora, but 2 weeks ago I received a rose from J&P that I completely forgot I ordered (last year). I stuck it in a pail of water and forgot about it until today. The temps got down below zero a few times and the thing is fine. It had even started leafing out. I planted it today. It was on Dr. Huey roots.

As long as you can get a shovel into the ground without it breaking it and the ground is not frozen, that is the best time to plant roses. It gives the roots time to do their thing.

Other than mounding they should need no winter protection.

Have fun!

Foghorn

I get lots of multiflora and leave it in the water just as long as Dr. Huey. Can you pot them up and bring them in if it gets too cold? Knowing that they are from Hortico, I know you won't need that large a container for those roots.

Bareroot. Dormant. Has been in cold storage anyway. Plant now if you can and cover the canes with mulch until it leafs out. Will be fine. If you can't plant immediately, then you can soak them or pot them up, but if you pot them up, you'll have to cover them with mulch anyway.

I routinely soak my multiflora-grafted bareroots for at least 24 hours.

Why do rose nurseries put out such conflicting messages?

You could pot them up and bring them into the garage at night when the temp drops.

Potting them sounds like a lot of work for very little, if any gain. If you *like* schlepping pots in and out, you can come over to my house and move the tender roses, and the bay trees in and out. Otherwise, plant them.

Back in the dark ages, ARE and some California nurseries used to ship bareroots. However, the cutoff date was the end of February, which is honestly too early for here. However, they were a lot cheaper, and some of the roses weren't available elsewhere, so those got potted up. It generally worked pretty well, but was considerably more effort than just sticking them in the ground, and covering them. Potting them up now is busy-work, unless there is some good reason for preferring them in a pot.

I would love to stick mine in the ground too, but.....

{{gwi:236477}}

...I may have no choice but to soak for a few days, and then possibly pot up (It's 22F here today).
Judith

Judith, I feel your pain. Our yard looks quite similar. It'll be another month before I see the gardens, unless we have a really hot spell.

Wow, Judith....what a difference a zone makes???
I am thinking spring for you!