Forgot to mention that the summers here are generally hot 80+ and humid with lots of sunshine

If I understand your question, what I might do with the plants that you store bare-root is pot them up in March or April, move them to a lighter, warmer (indoor) place and hopefully they will begin to come out of dormancy within a month or so. Then they will have a headstart and be already growing when you move them outside again in June. You are more likely to get flowering the longer the growing season. Or, when you dig them up in the Fall, knock off the soil, trim the roots and immediately pot them up in the smallest pot they will fit in...in mostly dry potting soil to winter over that way. They will likely begin to re-root in late winter. I've never stored any bare-root, but may try it some day as mine are getting quite large too! Maybe other Northern growers can offer better advice.

Thanks Dave, I may take your advice and pot them.
Our growing season is just so short, I don't know of anyone who would have any kind of success in 3 1/2 months of growing outside (4 months frost free if we're lucky)
Hoping to hear from any northern growers (zone 4 or 5) that try this.
So, do you put them in dry potting soil with no water over winter, and store in a cool dark place, or do you just put them in a sunny window, and treat as usual?
Bette

Bette,

I grow all mine in pots. In mid/late October, I try to let them dry out, cut off all the leaves, and store them in a dark corner of the basement. I only water them maybe once a month -- maybe two cups of water per plant, just to keep the root ball from contracting too much. In March, I move some to a grow light to try to give them a jumpstart. Even in a mostly dim basement some of them seem to sense the longer days and begin to grow.