I have to say that I often let mine get a little off track as far as regular growing season. I let those first leaves last as long as possible. It seems like whenever I plant trumpet and OT crosses, the moment I plant them in the ground, which I usually do in June or so, I immediately get new growth then, even if it seemed they were doing nothing in the pot on my deck. I always hope that I don't set the growth back by doing it this way, but I figure if they get the nutrition in part from length of time in leaf, then prolonging it seems like a good idea. When they start up again for me in June, I still see green in October and November. So it can't be all bad, I guess. It's just the way I have been accustomed to doing it. When I transplanted in fall, I would get that same growth pattern only it would be nipped by frost.
Mid to late October I will store my oriental seedlings and peonies in pots along my unheated garaged along the wall that is along the side of the house entrance. I haven't lost any bulbs this way. I cover them with a sheet and come late february check in on them. If I see sprouts coming up, then I bring them indoors under lights to start their growing cycle then.
Hopefully this helps.
