If I am ordering bare root plants, I soak them for a few hours (not 24) in water and either pot them up or place them in the prepared spot in the garden. If I've got the place for them then they go directly into the ground. This is preferred unless you plan to keep the plant in a pot.

These are Hosta and you can put them on Ken's driveway for a month before planting and they will be fine. But going from the pot into the ground is just another transition that you should avoid if you've got a prepared spot.

Steve

At the nursery where I work they mostly come in bare root (sometimes in plugs, which is almost the same as). I pot them up, no soaking, just get them in the potting mix, water well, and they go directly into the shade house where they grow on for a few weeks before someone comes along and buys these potted plants. When I take bare root plants home, I skip the potting step and put them directly into the ground unless my ground is frozen or I can't get it done for a week or so.
My point is, they are all bare root plants at some point,
whether you buy them before or after somebody (like me) sticks them in a pot (or in the ground so they can be field grown and dug at a later date so they can be sold to you as...bare root plants,lol!). They will be fine which ever way you do it.

Sandy

Last year I ordered several (bare-rooted) plants early and kept them potted in a shady spot on my deck, but watching out for threat of frost. With all other hostas still sleeping, it was nice seeing hostas grow. This way I had a lot of time to find spots to plant them in.
Bernd

It kinda depends.
If they come in in early spring and the ground is still moist and cool, I'd say you could go into the ground.

But, most other times, my personal preference is to soak first... indoors or in the deep shade.

If there appears to be any stress to the plant, I would suggest taping the petioles all together and try to soak them where they don't have to hold up their own leaves... So, kinda sideways.

Most of my Spring ones come in March and April and have no tops. I put them all in pots. Since you are in a place with late Springs, I suggest that you put them in pots and keep them protected until your last frost date. After that just stick them in the ground.

-Babka

After reading everything, I've decided to pot them up and keep them on the shady side of the greenhouse. My hosta bed gets dappled shade but a fair amount of strong wind, even the mature hostas suffer from wind burn. Potting them up and putting them beside the greenhouse will give them a better chance. I've never ordered seedlings before so I don't know how big these will be. In the meantime, I'll be working on a trellis to cut the wind. Thanks for the advice everyone. Marg

I always soak mine in water that has liquid kelp added to it before planting in pots or the ground.

Deanna