what is your native soil ... does it drain fast?? .. have you ever perked it???

where are you.. z5 is half the us ...

is the link to your web site??? .. are you just pushing clicks/views of that site???

ken

I really do not think this is a good idea, keep them in a sheltered area in the pots. Water when soil is dry.

If you are not going to be planting them until next spring, you will definitely need to heel them in (bury the pots in the ground) for them to survive the winter. Otherwise, they will be need to brought into an area that offers considerable protection against cold weather, like a cool/unheated basement or an attached garage.

FWIW, many gardeners that acquire plants faster than they can accommodate them in the garden follow this method of storage until a more suitable planting time, developing dedicated "nursery beds" in an out of the way portion of the garden or a disused veggie plot to house their pot nursery until they are ready to plant them in their forever home.

Where are you?

Do you have a garage?

I am within 5b as I initially indicated in my post. I am not trying to link to my website, sorry for the link, I used copy and paste for this. I have a garage and a shed, both have a small window. The temperature in the shed is closer to outside (has some ventilation cuts below the roof.
Yes I have an area where I can put them into ground temporarly (the vegetable garden) . The soil is so and so, it does not drain really fast, 50% between clay and sand more toward clay I would say. It did not crack during the extended dry periods we have had here in Toronto

Sinking the pots into soil is a good idea in your location. Be sure to select a site that drains well and is sheltered from the sun. An understory location would be good.

Don't forget to water occasionally! Plants absolutely need moisture during the winter. Cover them with straw or hay in times of extreme cold.

Be prepared to cut some roots in the spring, they will continue to grow through the winter....a good thing. It won't harm the plants when you sever the roots cleanly with a sharp instrument.

Thank you guys, it seems that I have a good plan for the winter.
One more question. A few years back I saw frehsly planted trees covered in something like a bag, is that something that I should do ?

http://tinyurl.com/jaaa989

Interesting link above

http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/trees-shrubs/protecting-from-winter-damage/

Why leave them in their pots?

They will be safer and do better just planted in a temporary spot with some mulch. Moving them in the spring will be no big deal. They're small plants.

Mike

Regardless of in or out of the pots, use mulch over the top to prevent frost heaving. And I will mention one more time what several others have mentioned - be sure to put in a spot that drains well.

What if I add some fabric barrier and I put some gravel around the pots before I put the pots there? the fabric would be to allow me remove the gravel without contaminating the soil of my vegetable garden which I plan to use (a corner of it) for this

I would think the rootball would tend to dry out more in a pot in the ground than just a rootball in the ground, especially in Zone 5 Toronto.

Mike