When I've grown them (in Minnesota), I planted them fairly early and carefully potted them up into larger (maybe 5-6") pots, making sure that they went outside while it was still cold at night (40-50 F) while hardening off in the spring, just avoiding frost. Then I transplanted them in the garden. The variety I grew was a hybrid bred for producing early (maybe Imperial Star) and we got a nice little crop from them the first year. I don't have a place to successfully winter them over, so first year is it. Johnny's Seed tech sheet may be of use:
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-...tructions.html