They will get the cold they need while they are underground during the winter. The only time you need to refrigerate is when you are planting them in pots for winter forcing indoors and they won't get the natural cold period.

As for holding them for that month before planting them, as long as they were still firm, they will be fine. A good quality bulb can stand much longer than that out of the ground and not skip a beat.

- Steve

Whether tulips and hyacinth need to be refrigerator cooled before planting will depend on your zone temperatures. Here in zone 9 pre-cooling is a must for successful growing of these bulbs. Al

Natalie,
I'm in your zone, 7b, and I was very unhappy with my tulips last year. They grew about an inch above the ground and then bloomed...very pitiful looking. I was told that they will do that if the temperature did not drop low enough for a certain period time. This year I don't want to take the chance of it occurring again, so I have put mine in the fridge for a couple of weeks before planting.
This year might be cold enough...but it's up to you!

Thank you all for your advice! Can't wait to see my labor of love in spring.

~Natalie

efam
I had the same experience when I didn't chill some big box sale bulbs. I also had smaller tulips when they didn't get enough water last year but were chilled. No, not that small, but smaller. Now I'll remember to water if nature doesn't
c