Tulips in Australian Gardens: Making Cool-Climate Flowers Work

The Pre-Chilling ProcessTulips evolved in Central Asian mountain climates with cold winters and hot dry summers. They require 6–8 weeks of cold (4–7°C) to develop flower buds — cold that occurs naturally in Melbourne and Canberra but must be provided artificially in warmer climates. The process: place bulbs in a paper bag in the warmest part of the refrigerator (not the crisper — too humid and may cause mould) from late April to early June. Plant immediately upon removal.In Melbourne an…