Allotments 4 All

Gooseberries arrived today.  Can I leave them in the packaging outside until  Saturday?

Or will they die?

I've got some fruit bushes (gooseberry, redcurrant, tayberry) that I bought over a week ago, and due to illness, still haven't put them out. They have rootballs wrapped in plastic. They look OK so far - the buds on them haven't browned or dried out. I'm hoping to get out in the next couple of days and at least 'heel them in' as I've been advised. Still have to dig proper holes for them though... so, I'm hoping that people answer 'yes' to your question!

They probably won't die, but if you really can't do something quick like bung them in a bucket with a bit of soil shovelled in, then I'd take them out of the plastic, and wrap the roots in damp newspaper or sacking. You don't really want them to freeze, neither do you want them to dry out.
Bear in mind that buds stay green for ages when stems are cut from plants, so it's not really a good indication of damage to the root of the plant.

Quote from: jennym on January 29, 2009, 12:10:56
They probably won't die, but if you really can't do something quick like bung them in a bucket with a bit of soil shovelled in, then I'd take them out of the plastic, and wrap the roots in damp newspaper or sacking. You don't really want them to freeze, neither do you want them to dry out.
Bear in mind that buds stay green for ages when stems are cut from plants, so it's not really a good indication of damage to the root of the plant.

That is what I might do tonight then.