I would plant them in pots. When I got mine in a week ago they really needed to be put in dirt. They are usually small also. Unless you plan on leaving them their for at least a year I wouldn't plant them in a different bed too much stress. If you put them in pots they can start adjusting and when ever you plant them you want traumatize the roots.
Good Luck
Pattie

Hi Prof,
I love Bluestone's plants and yes they may be small to begin with, but they are hardy. As Pattie above said you can pot them up until your beds are ready or put them in a holding bed, its exactly what you described above.

Alberta

I have a "holding bed" but it is within my fenced veggie garden - I have extra space so I sow perennials that bloom in the second year and dig them up the following spring and place them - It's like going to the store and getting new plants - for NOTHING!

Carrie :0)

Hi prof! I've mentioned about my holding bed before. In it I dig in gift and rescued plants that I may not have a 'final' place in mind for yet. I have small shrubs, overflow perennials, special-needs plants, etc. When I get bare root plants in the mail I might heal them in the holding bed until its a better time to plant them out. My holding (or nursery) bed is permanent and helps me organize the main beds by giving me this overflow area.
Kris

Hi prof,
I received an order last week,they are in 3 inch pots,i am just keeping them in the pots til i am ready to plant them in their permanent home,right now i have them in my kitchen,on the window sill,they will go outside, a little at a time, til i am finally ready to plant them,this has always worked for me when i receive something to soon.
Good luck.
cAROL

Carrie, I like that idea of using the veggie bed. I think I'll try that, as I harvest instead of succession planting I'll just put out my perennials to let them grow. I don't think very many will flower for me this first year, but I'd probably feel guilty if I left them in their jugs.

It works and it's fun, too!

Carrie :0)

I agree with the general consensus of not using a nursery bed if it's a short time, but using one if it will be months before you have a final spot for the plant.

In my experience, a 3-inch pot is a huge risk for drying out quickly. If you're running around making beds and planting out, you may forget about watering them once or twice a day. If that's how your plants come, I'd either pot them up, or put several pots into a large container of dirt.

I have kept plants in small pots 3-4" throughout the summer in a shaded area. IME, they would be better off potted up or even temporarily planted in a holding bed. If it is a very short time, 1-2 wks, then leaving them in the pot and watering carefully should work fine.

I've also planted pot and all in a holding bed. That keeps the roots contained with no transplant shock until planted out and the soil moisture in the holding bed will keep the pots from drying out. Just don't forget them or your plants will become root bound.

This is good info, folks. Thanks to all. I need 4 cubic yards of soil to back-fill this darn pond where the perennials will go, and I'm hauling and filling myself. And that's with everything else going on this time of year.

I'm going to try and hold them over in pots until I can plant. If worse comes to worst, I'll hire a hungry college student to help me get this done fast.

Prof

Having a pond sounds nice--but you're getting rid of it?