I plant in the fall for the following summer's harvest and mulch it well before the ground freezes. You have nothing to lose by giving it a try since you have already bought it - I don't know how sensitive it is to day length. My garlic is usually ready for harvest about the end of July, so that doesn't give a lot of time for this year.

It was only 50p a bulb so i suppose theres nothing to lose. I'll keep one back I think, if i can keep it dormant that is.

I plant in the fall.. If you plant now you may get garlic heads with small cloves or undivided garlic rounds. You have some good ideas on what to do... Garlic need a cool period to grow properly. So you may have to figure out a plan that involves cool weather. I dont know how cool your Januarys are but that may be your best bet, plant now, pull in autumn, resting, then replant in January...

You probably can also pull early and rest them and replant in fall..

I wouldn't try to hold them until fall unless you know that particular variety keeps long. I learned the hard way. I had some garlic bulbs that I was trying to hold just shrivel up over a couple of months...

If the cloves are not well-sprouted by now then it's dead anyway. If they are sprouted might as well stick in the ground because they won't wait. A garlic clove is not like a true seed.

You can use them as fresh garlic greens (gallions). Do not expect any bulbs this year

I planted some bulbs Jan 2013, didn't see anything so dug them up, at least I thought I did. This spring 2014 they were the first thing to pop up. The greens are tall, the base is thick and everything looks healthy above the soil. A friend just told me to wait for a little bulb to form at the top of the stem and then I'd know if they were good/ready? I was surprised to see them and can't wait to see if they are edible. Plant and experiment!