I have tulips and daffodils in my refrigerator. Tulips that have been chilling in the refrigerator for the past 6 or 8 weeks can be planted Christmas to Valentine's.
Many gardeners earmark New Year's as planting time.
Tulips need several hours of sun for the best blooms, but given some light shade, you may see longer stems. The ideal soil makeup for tulip bulbs is a sandy, organically enriched soil. Good drainage is a must or the bulbs will rot. Work the soil well, adding bone meal or superphosphate if the squirrels dig in your garden. Create a large hole about 6 inches deep with a fairly level bottom if you wish to plant a cluster of bulbs and want the blooms to be about the same height.