We planted some store bought garlic that sprouted. It was the wrong time here to plant also, we had minor success with it, (very minor) as I recall lol. It did get us interested about growing garlic though, last year we did ok but this years garlic is looking awesome. Give it a try if you have the space.
I did that last spring with some sprouting garlic, and they came up but didn't do much. I thought they all died, so I was surprised to see the greenery late summer. I dig one up, but found only a nub at the end. So I left them all winter. They stayed green, and grew. I haven't dug one this spring yet to see what is growing down there, but I will soon. At this point, I don't know whether it is better to leave them all summer again, or try to harvest now.
So Lucky, I'd leave them. If you dig one now, it's probably not that much different than the one you looked at last year, except it probably has a real mass of roots. It's getting ready to really grow.
When the tops start to die is the time to harvest, not now. Probably late June or in July for you. I don't think our climates are that much different.
planting this time of the year they will more in likely mount to very small bulbs , if anything go ahead and plant them. at least you can harvest them like bunching onions.
in past have harvest a few young garlics just for the greens to add to a shrimp scampi, they taste just like garlic....
I planted grocery store garlic last October with the garlic from the garden center. So far all three varieties are growing well and the plants are all pretty much the same size. Although none of them are happy with the single digit temps they have seen in the last few weeks.