Ken-

Depends on how warm of a climate the plant material is coming from. If they're in Zone 6/7 and going to your Zone 5, I believe, then you should be okay. If they're in 8/9 and they have had a mild Fall/Winter, then the plant is going to be much more sensitive to periods of low temperature.

Plants become more freezing tolerant based on shortening day lengths, as well as progressively lower temperatures. So in both zones the day length issue is covered, but make not the lower temperatures. If the plants they send have only seen 45F, and they're going to see 5F at your place shortly after arrival, then they will likely be damaged. If they however have experienced 15/20F, they should be fine - this all assumes that the plant is hardy to 5F.

I can elaborate on this if necessary
-Brent

you have hit the variables .. spot on brent ...

so presuming i actually have a friend.. and presuming the plant is FULLY Z5 ... and presuming it was my one and only chance ..

what would you do ????

the house is too warm.. they will come out of dormancy ...

ken

I'd keep a few bags of fine mulch in the garage, or anywhere above freezing. When the plant arrives, place it in the barn or another spot where temperatures won't dip below ~20F, pile the mulch around all sides, also adding 2" above the soil line in the container. The fine mulch will nicely buffer freezing events and prevent it from shock. Of course when it arrives, look at the upcoming forecast, make sure it's not going to get too cold, etc. You want it to acclimate gently...

In the spring, pull it out of the mulch, plant it, or keep it in a container.

your a hoot brent... in my z5.. approx'ly 20 ... [how did you make that squiggle ...]

IS THE DAILY NORM/HIGH FOR MOST OF JAN AND FEB... hitting zero often .. after midnight.. as clapton might say ....

its MI for God's sake.. lol ...

i think.. i will have to find a second friend [odds low on that] ... that has a greenhouse.. where is starter dude ...

though you do exactly describe how i store properly hardened off potted plants in my barn..

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: i didnt know it wasnt claptons song.. go figure

Clarification - place it where temps won't dip below ~20F for at least a few days after receipt of the new plant. That way it won't be temperature shocked immediately... The 40F mulch will buffer the freezing events for a while.

brent!!!

you cursed me.. it was 19 degrees this morning...

yikes.. i think its going to be a long, cold winter ...

ken