Herbaceous Peony root - planting in very cold weather

I’m expecting a root of P. Bowl of Beauty to be delivered this week and am unsure how to plant it. I know the eyes are supposed to be only about 2” below the soil but it’s supposed to be low temperatures all week with freezing conditions overnight a few nights.
I was going to plant it in the ground but wondering if a pot that I could put in a sheltered position might be a better option right now?
Thanks for any advice.

 

I see you're in Scotland....we need @hailbopp's advice She grows perennials to perfection! Meanwhile, there are two options, really. Plant in the ground and mulch until risk of frosts is over or pot up and plant in spring. I don't think that a temporary mulch will do any harm. The shallow planting advice is all about promoting good flowering. If the soil is wet and likely to stay that way for months, I'd be inclined to pot it up.

 

I'd pot it up for now, but don't plant it that deep, then plant out next year late spring or early summer once the ground's warmer and drier.
If you're on this side of the country, you can have them planted at ground level. I do that to avoid the excessive wet. The most important thing is good drainage, so before you plant it out, do some good prep in advance.

 

That’s kind of you to say, not sure it is that accurate however

 

Given the quantities that you pot up for charity, you're doing something right

 

Hi @Wild_Violet.
I run a charity plant sale and sell 100s of different types of plants including chunks of herbaceous peonies which always sell very very well as my prices and generous portions are not anything like that which the commercial sellers offer!
My best advice which is what I do is to pot up the root when it arrives but have the eye, hopefully eyes!! just below the surface not 2 inches deep. Do you have a green house? Ideally then put the potted up root into a cold greenhouse and be very sparing/ don’t water if the compost is quite moist. Only start to water say about the middle of February. Once the plant starts to grow then water but don’t be generous. Once there is no longer a risk of frost, not sure where you are but here in this part of Scotland it’s the 3rd week in April or should be, then plant out at the same level.
Failing a greenhouse then put the pot on a south facing window cill if possible in say a coldish bedroom, even a shed with a window will do. You do not want the root getting really wet until it starts to regrow. Cold is not really an issue.
2 years ago I split up some Niger for a friend in about September, it was good weather and the greenhouse was very warm so left the potted split peonies outside, forgot about them and the following spring the sections were all dead having rotted off. Hope this helps.

 

Thank you all.
I shall pot up for just now in that case and see if I can borrow a space in my husband’s greenhouse till spring.

 

It's having them too deep, and in consistently cold wet soil, that's the problem @Wild_Violet , so allowing them to establish in a drier setting at this time of year is best, before planting out in better conditions in 6 months time. It then allows good establishment through the drier part of the season and means they cope better through their next winter. It's the same with many clematis if buying as small plants in autumn.
Peonies don't flower well if planted too deeply, but if the ground is also wet/heavier, they'll struggle in every way. The soil is slow to warm/dry up in spring in the west, and stays wetter, which is also why the east is much better for arable farming. Too wet on this side, especially at the crucial times.