Seedlings are of minimal value.

My neighbor has some he can't give away, and he has had a small nursery.

Mike

If the seedlings are being shipped in January, they will most likely be bare root. You can store them but there is really no need to wait in a z8 and storing them safely requires more attention than just potting up at that time. You want a very durable, bark based planting mix - not a Miracle Gro product but something more along the lines of the 5-1-1 or gritty mix described in detail on the Container Gardening forum. And I would go with the 2G containers right off the bat to reduce the need for up potting before their potential sale. With those kinds of high draining soil mixes, a larger container than the plant warrants immediately does not present any concerns about excess moisture surrounding small root systems.

Seedling (no-name) JM's do not command a high price point. But they DO have value, especially if well grown and well cared for. I would consider selling them at your local farmer's market - those presented for sale in my area, where you can locate just about ANY JM your heart desires and relatively easily, are snapped up promptly - 3-4 y.o. plants for right around $30-40. Not everyone wants or needs a JM with a detailed pedigree :-))

My friend pots up seedling from her yard before she has a yard sale. No matter how many she has, by days end they are all sold. Not big money but she sees it as free money.

"Little Apples Can Be So Sweet"