Try White Oak Nursery. They carry many varieties that are bagged bare root and kept in cold storage for the winter. You can also contact nurseries in the south that may be able to dig and ship hostas much earlier than their northern counterparts.

Try Green Hill Hostas, Bob ships all year round if you need them.
John

Here's a tip for next year.... I have done this with a lot of success in the past. I would recommend learning on something easily replaced though, just in case.

I usually have 1 or 2 in black nursery pots when the fall is closing in and getting them in their permanent homes is questionable. I dig them into a spot in my "holding bed" so the soil levels are about even and cover them with chopped leaves for the winter. About now (I jsut did it yesterday) I go out and brush off the leaves, rinse off the pot and put it in my unheated sunroom. they will be sprouting in just a couple of weeks and leafed out well before the garden ones are. Not a perfect solution, but it keeps me from getting nuts.

OR... just get some seeds from the Hallsons seed page and start your own babies! Nothing like watching brand new plants emerge!

Alexa

I just bought several "bagged bare root" (as dhaven mentions) hosta plants and stumbled upon this thread while looking for directions on how/when to plant them. I assume I am to keep them cool in the garage until the threat of frost passes and then plant, and not expect much in the way of foliage this year.

Or, as they're roots without bullets, should I/may I plant them sooner? Hosta bullets are definitely emerging from the ground here. It's an unseasonally warm day in Northern Virgina. I'd love to get out there and put them in the ground NOW if I can. Thanks!

If they are roots with no sprouts and you are able to turn the soil then there is really no reason to wait. Dormant perennials can be planted any time that the ground is workable and not water logged - no need to wait until the danger of frost has passed.

I would simply isolate those bagged plants away from other hostas for 3 years or so, sort of in quarantine, and wash your hands and tools thoroughly after handling them to prevent spreading diseases. I rinse off all the dirt then use lysol (mix it up from concentrate or use the foaming spray) to scrub my shovels clean, then soak in a bucket of lysol for 10 minutes and then air dry.

Hope that helps.

Chris

Thanks Chris. Very helpful! I'll get right on it.