Tulip bulbs in the fridge

[JamMakingWannaBe]

After a really crap display of tulips this year, I went on a Goggle hunt that suggested tulip bulbs might like a period of cold (in the fridge) before planting.
I notice that Lidl are starting to sell their bulbs from next month so I'm planning on buying more bulbs for next Spring in the hopes of a decent display - both in pots and in the ground.
I tend to buy Darwin and Apeldoorn varieties which are meant to be reliable.
Has anyone tried this, and if so, what are your hints and tips.
I really want to know if I still plant out in November or overwinter them in the fridge and plant out in February - maybe I'll try both and report back!

Oh that’s a good idea. I might fridge mine for a bit before planting as I doubt it’ll be properly cold by the end of Oct/start of Nov when I want to get them in.

sadly they need totally replacing every year chez us, so I’ve resigned myself to seeing them as an annual cost.

I've no experience but a Dutch website says not to keep them next to fruit as the ethylene gas can inhibit growth.

However I bought bulbs from Aldi last year, and the bright pink and red bulbs I bought turned out to be pastel pink. So hopefully Lidl's are better, but be warned! The stripey red/white and purple ones were the correct colour. I suspect the bulb growers send their not-quite-sure leftovers 😅

Anyone else tried cooling their bulbs before planting?

Well I've always assumed that them being outside all winter was the equivalent of a spell in the fridge, but its always fun to try these experiments so it will be interesting to hear how you get on.

My tulips did poorly but I think the awful long very wet spring could have had a lot to do with it.

Ive not heard of it but I ax wondering how the poor tulips would turn out that were sat in 30 degrees heat in Monday in our local Nursery.

Lidl are starting to sell their bulbs from next month They have tulips bulbs on sale THIS week!!! I know because I bought multiple, different types.

I have put them in the fridge before, but that was when I lived abroad in a hotter country. Since living in the UK, I've never needed to do this. The fancier varieties in particular are often not as good after the 1st/2nd years, so maybe yours are just worn out? Have you fed them with any fertiliser? I've found that when I've planted new bulbs in say Nov, they tend to bloom a bit later. If they are in the ground from the year before, they already have an established root system and tend to flower a bit earlier.

You might get an earlier bloom with the fridge technique, but I don't know. Please do report back though.

Where is good to buy bulbs please? Mine were disappointing this year.

I've bought from aldi/lidl in the past and I have some that keep having good displays 5yrs on. Last year I bought the £3 offer from either Suttons or Thompson-Morgan. 1st year of their display and they were lovely.

As I said up thread, the fancier, less common types don't seem to do well year after year, but I'm far from any expert.