OK,

Here is my question?

I have some plants (potted) in 1 gal & 3 gal pots that were started this year, I am not at all sure just how to treat them this winter!
I have a insulated unheated shed, and a South facing porch with a roof on it.

I live in zone 8 and sometimes it can get down to about 20 or so degrees, but not very often, Would I be better leaving them on the porch until the temps get down to the mid 20's or as soon as they drop their leafs, put them in the shed?

Remember I'm in Z 8

Thanks

Hi Cecil
OK im not used to any climate such as yours, but if it were me going by the winter temps you stated i would wait till leaves JUST START to curl and put them away in shed and throw old bed sheet on the for good measure.
Young plants can be stubborn is my experience, just this year my adults leaves curled when the temps hit 24 and the young ones such as yours refused to do so BUT i put them all away in garage anyways and now there dropping there leaves in garage getting on with there winter sleep. I have done this before so i know it works for me anyhoot.
Just dont wait to long for them leaves to curl at the slightest sign i would put them away it wont hurt them at all and might save them from harm if you wait till leaves drop, like i said there stubborn because there young and dont know any better thats how i figure !

Martin,
That makes plenty of sense to me, If I was in a colder climate, But what about those 70+ degree days I get in the dead of Winter?

Did you read what Al told me on the GW/FF?

Thanks,

Hi Cecil, although I'm one zone below you, our weather is very similar. I always leave mine right where they are. They go dormant and have always stayed there until spring. We have some 70-80 F temps in the winter, but not for extended periods. I've not had a problem with them breaking dormancy. Just my two cents.

Hmm i did read that you get that warm sometimes in winter gee aren't you lucky !!!!!!
Well Cecil that would present a problem as once there asleep then warm weather hits them they would surely want to start to wake up with 70 temps and perhaps eben start to break bud thinking its start of spring then cold hit again and that cycle off and on might somehow damage them. 
Im thinking if there outside and go dormant then wake up in winter then get a cold weather again that would damage new growth and set them back.
Cecil now im not sure what i would do but wish we had winter warm weather at times like that.
Short of shuffling them around but in and out of shed but they would still see warm temps either way then cold again.
Cecil you have a situation i sorry i cannot give any advice for i have not ever experienced those conditions nor pretend to help you with a solution.

fatnsassy I value your two cents!
Martin I value your in-put too.

I will leave them be on the front porch unless it gets down to about 25* they should be protected from the North winds on our South facing porch!

Ciao Cecil, leave them and watch the weather forecast, if you need to move them, do so. Be safe with the young ones.  Safe than sorry!!!

I would like your kind of weather.

That's the plan Maggie, thanks!

Cecil,
ok i dont know if this would be similar situation but here goes.
Because of you remeber last year i bought a temperature gauge not as nice as yours cause i actually have to get up to look at it.  ; )
Anyhoot my trees went dormant ok and last several days temps been in garage around 60 to 72 i have seen this measure on gauge and they will be in that same temp range for another week at least because garage is insulated. In mid winter we do get occassional warm spell say 40 to 45 but for a short while usually no more than a week and temps in garage will hit perhaps 60 during that time but the trees are fast asleep. If you get that 70 for a week time and trees are asleep then perhaps they will stay asleep maybe just toss and turn sort to speak but not wake up.
Because of you i lost a few precious hairs on my head as i saw gauge in garage at 6 to 8 above for a spell and in the teens only for a good while last year as we had a dandy of a cold winter and my trees were fine no damage what so ever to them but this does not apply to you but happened because i bought that darn gauge . I think this year i will cover it as if they made it thru last season with no damage they can handle any chicago winter long as they are in garage. I thought about putting a few in shed but after neighbors plant dies in shed years back thats a no no for me.
So in short or long perhaps if yours are nice and asleep and you have a warm spell long as that warm spell does not last maybe you can get away with putting them in shed but i cant recommend it to you as i said in earlier post.

Well I have a thermometer in the shed to, so I can compare
the front porch and the shed temps as well!

I can see where there might be a problem with what I posted earlier, especially if the temperature would drop fast or a prolonged warm spell. I guess this situation has not really presented itself yet here. I'll have to make sure & keep watch this winter---don't want to lose any youngsters after all my hard work!