You should still be able to plant them in the ground now, as you should still have a few months before you get a freeze. If you repot them, you will still need to provide winter protection.

Liz

Put them in now. First frost for your area is targeted for 1 October (ours is 15 October, I'm in Monmouth Cty.), but it has never gotten that cold that early here. The roots will actually like the cooler weather. Don't fertilize now, though, unless you just add a little bone meal in the hole. No more fertilizing until next year.