Planting a bare-root blackthorn out of season?

[snowbunny]

Hi, I'd like to introduce some blackthorn bushes to my property in Spain - yes, for sloes! Is this a crazy idea?

I am not going to be in the UK until mid May; if I got bare-root plants delivered to my family there, would it be a disaster if they kept hold of them and then I planted them out when I returned? My property is near Tarragona, so not in the far south.

Thanks for your help.

[Zelenina]

I doubt if you need to go to that much trouble. Blackthorn already exists in Spain, except in the far south. They call it el endrino and they make a liqueur called pacharán from the sloes (or patxaran in Basque). I expect you can find a Spanish source for the plants, or take cuttings from wild bushes.

Pacharan from Navarre, 500 Years of History | Food and Wines from Spain

[snowbunny]

Patxaran is sloe?! I never knew! Thanks for your help

[Zelenina]

Yes, with a few added ingredients. Sounds like you have some experience with it