The best place for them will probably be in the ground, if the soil is still workable. Just be sure to cover them with some sort of mulch(straw, bark mulch, evergreen branches, etc...) You can store them in a cool place, like a unheated basement or refrigerator in a paper bag or plastic bag with holes in it. They tend to shrivel up when stored too long.

Have heard some growers pot up orders received in winter from Barry Blyth, but they have greenhouses.

It really is too late to plant. You should probably pot them. Smaller rhizomes especially. BUT - - - I'm not an expert, just a gungho novice with time management issues! so maybe someone else has better ideas?

I've had to plant later than the guidelines for three years now. My irises don't lose their leaves until December if at all, our winters have been so mild lately - keep that in mind. Our average first frost date is Oct 10th. This is a lot of extra work. But this is what I've done:

Plant the medium sized and larger rhizomes normally, water them in. NO FERTILIZER - it's too late - but I use a little bone meal. As soon as the night temps go under 36 degrees, go back over and "mulch" them with about one inch of extra (bagged) topsoil lightly placed or mounded over each one. [remove this the moment the weather warms in late winter] Leave this soil loose - don't pack it down. Then cover the beds, individual cloches or quilts or other covers, anytime the temperature drops below 34 degrees at night. Take covers off when the air temp is over 36 degrees in the morning. Do this for about three to four weeks if you have to, until they have a chance at establishing. If you need to water in this drought, water in the early mornings so the bed can dry out by night.

I have heavy clay soil and mine were planted on a slope.

It's still fall not winter. Get them in the ground.

I'm also in Georgia (Warm Springs) 70 miles S.W. of Atlanta and I would still plant here. In fact, I have planted all through the winter without loss. It's just that they usually don't bloom in the Spring if planted too late.

I'm in Nevada (high desert around Reno) I plant irises in the ground and in pots. There are just times when you want a plant where there is no ground (like on a deck or patio).
Growing Iris In Pots
I cut this from http://www.schreinersgardens.com/about_iris.shtml

Iris can be successfully grown in pots. First, select a roomy pot. A 6" to 8" pot will work for Dwarf Iris; a 12" pot will work for Tall Bearded Iris. Make sure your pot has good drainage. For soil, we recommend 45% fir bark, 20% pumice, and 35% peat moss. Leave at least one inch below the pot's rim, and leave the top of the rhizome exposed. Water only when the top two inches of soil are dry. Overwatering will cause rot. Keep the pot outdoors during the winter. When bloom buds begin to appear in the fans, bring the pot inside and place in a bright sunny window. After bloom, be sure to divide your Iris and replant outside or into more pots.

Since they have been in the Iris business since rocks were still forming I do put a lot of trust in their information.

G'luck,
Robert

I've had good luck keeping mine in holding pots until I decided where I was going to plant them. I moved a bunch of irises with me from SE Texas to OK and kept them in pots. They don't always bloom in the pots, but they don't die.

I just potted up all the ones I planted last Spring. I wasn't happy with the flowerbed, so I'm doing some changes. I'm afraid they would dry up if kept in a bag for too long.

Be sure to label your pots if you have named irises, so you can keep up with them. It's easy to forget which is which if you're moving the pots around and don't label them.

Good Luck,
Susie

Hi everybody,
I'm in Indonesia (tropical country) with full sun on 12 hours. my boss brings me a basket of Iris Oriental Beauty tuber.

I'm confusing on planting ways. the different climate and day photoperiode of mother country makes me in the hard thingking. What should i do?

Please give me more information on planting modification of Iris.

thanks for your advice.

Irisy,
This other post will help you with the Iris Oriental Beauty: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/iris/msg1010133416806.html?4

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Web

I transplanted/divided several of my irises for the first time this fall, so I cannot attest as to the efficacy of whaty I did, but here goes anyways.

1. I dug uyp the entire clump of the iris
2. I broke off all the smaller rhyzomes and placed the plants into a loose pile
3. Discarded the main original rhyzome as apparently once they get too large they lose flower productive capacity
4. LLet the irises dry some for 2 days
5. replanted, leaving the very top of each rhyzome just visible above ground.

I didn't mulch or water them in OR fertilize. This was done early to mid October here, which was right around first frost this year, and is recommended time for planting.

2-3 weeks later, all the transplants had small new leaves growing.