Unless you get them out of their pots and into the ground very soon, I wouldn't count on many (if any) surviving the winter. Even buried in a pile of leaves, the entire root systems in those tiny pots will freeze solid. Your zone 5 winter will feel like zone 4 and possibly 3 to them.

Electric heat tape/cable is an option which can be effective, but isn't super cheap for this many flats.

If you have a basement or crawl space, you might be able to winter them over there.

That was my original fear too....but....

IDK if that's true..from what I know about how far the ground freezes here the roots of ANY perennial freeze in the ground or not.( The frost line is like at 4-5 feet deep...)

it's not the freeze I am worried about but dessication.(drying out. entirely and THEN freezing is what would kill them IMHO..).
And every layer of protection is like adding 1/2 a zone so leaves IN the bag.....hmmm....

ontheteam,
do Not put then in a clear bag!
you will kill them.
In our zone you are right it's not the freeze that kills them.
IMHO. place them on the ground in a semi shaded area placed very close together. mound up soil around the edges and keep watered till they go dormant. then cover thinly with shredded leaves. place chicken wire on top to keep the leaves in place.
it will keep in moisture. come March take off leaves and put in a sunnier location. do that before they break dormancy. Its definitely the lack of moisture or too much moisture that kills them.
between the leaves and the shade they should be fine.
good luck :)
Laura

glad to know I am not totally wrong lol..
Why do you think the bags would kill them? I plan on using them with a frame of sorts so it's not sitting right no the soil....

Here is a link that might be useful: reason for the question.

In z:4 I overwinter many plants in 3in pots and larger by putting them in the soil in my veg beds and covering thickly with shredded leaves. I remove the leaves in the spring, here that's April, and leave them in the ground until I am ready to plant them or need the space for veggies. Have done the same with jugs of ws seedlings that didn't get planted out earlier. Most survive and grow well the next year.

I think the clear bag could cause a problem with overheating when the sun shines on it.

I do my veggies in containers... hmmm.... thinkin' thinkin

Thanks for the input it makes me feel better to know i may be able to pull this off. I had wanted to have 1,500 perennials potted up by now( and a hoop hose) but the blepiy bleep bleep car accident has really screwed me up.

I am hoping if I switch to cuttings now I could make up a few more of that 1000 I do not have...

But I am gonna be doing a lot of begging for perennials. That's something I wanted to avoid so I could beg for veggie and annuals instead..

ontheteam,
mnwsgal is right. no clear plastic!
I looked at your site and couldn't go to the next page,
but what i saw was enough for me to know you are very good person!
I have no money or means too help other than sending you
Best wishes and prayers that you will hit or surpass your goal.
you have a great plan. go for it!!!
If you build it...
They will come!!!
Laura

Thanks Laura..if you click on any thing that is underlines on the site it should take you there.

I will take your good wishes!Thank you,,,

And I'll add... any one in MA/RI I'll take your divisions or your body... I could use help manning the table for a week. I do have a job and can;t spend every minute at the table but the plants sold SOO much better wiht someone who knows a little at the table.

SO Check..no plastic. I am scoping out places around the house where some long neglected flower beds are..i can weed'em (or make my sons do it lol) till in some new organics and carve out a spot for the flats and heel em in and do the leaves(that I have in SPADES) and chicken wire. TADA...

Right? Am I missing anything?

you got it.
just make sure your leaves are shredded. you want water and air to get to them.
unshredded leaves mat together and nothing gets in or out.
good luck :)

Awesome Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: pics of the babies

bad link sorry

Here is a link that might be useful: fixed link