John, I think they will do ok with "ground planting", as long as you "tie them down" (i.e. sit a rock, or a 1/2 brick on top.....stake them in with a landscape pin, or something similar) They will 'make roots' up until the time the ground freezes. That said, you COULD pot them......they *might* root a little faster that way, as you could move them around to always have *ideal* conditions.....and then sink the pot, rim deep, in the garden , before freeze up.
