Peonies: Question about bare root peony, 2 by NoH2O

NoH2O wrote:
I received a bare root peony from a vendor. It has a lot of eyes on it and 3 firm roots. The crown is also firm but it is hollow, just a shell. It is as if it had rotted out and left a thin cover but, as I said, it is firm, not soft. The hole is so big that I could stick my hand in one side and my fingers would come out the other side. Is this normal? Does it put the plant at risk of rot over the winter?