For years, here in central Massachusetts (zone 6 now, apparently), I have planted bulbs in containers successfully (for the most part). However, I keep them in my unheated garage until spring arrives, then bring them out. As far as I know, bulbs in containers WILL freeze in my area.

Tulips, hyacinths, narcissus all do well. Good luck!

Excellent for you - not so much for me. don't have heated garage unfortunately. I might plant a few and throw a heavy covering over them. Winters have been mild - so maaaaaybe......Thanks so much.

He said an UNheated garage. You can mimic the same thing by using the south side of

a building, surrounding with straw bales, and covering the top with pine straw.

Absolutely correct - read that too fast. Think I'm stuck with current location - on my deck - up 4 stairs - way too heavy to move. I'll try covering it with something - thanks for suggestions.

Don’t in- ground bulbs freeze in very cold zones anyway? I would think that if you planted bulbs zoned for a couple of zones colder than yours, that might work. I could see a problem with freeze/thaw in a container ( a warmer, sunnier day) or with too- early sprouting getting nipped. So covering them might be more to keep temps from fluctuating, and you mightn’t want to cover/ bake them in sun.

Hmm. Good thoughts. The sun may not be a problem - it is lower and not quite as warm as summer, I think. - I'll check out the bulb situation.

Absolutely!!

gardengal, that makes sense, although I had thought that ground got colder in prolonged winters up north. So yeah, thinking of a frozen potato…
Are roots different? Wouldn’t shallow roots freeze? Or do they have different water movement in cells.

It depends on the roots :-) Some plants just have roots that are more - or less - sensitive to cold temperatures. One example that comes immediately to mind is Japanese maples. Inground hardy to zone 5 and in some cases, zone 4, their roots are damaged at 26F (reinforcing the data re: frozen soil temps). So that means growing them in containers pretty much anywhere poses a risk. Even in my very mild zone, we can experience some very cold temperatures with a not uncommon Arctic blast.

The risk of frozen roots or bulbs is really focused on growing these plants in containers. They are fine in the ground.

I have a solution - I have an oblong - 8' deep plantr box. I will put bulbs in there and keep in my unheated shed until spring. Then into my larger dec box. My next obvious problem is bulb availability - think I missed the boat - looks like Christmas stuff is in the stores already - thanks to all.