The classic time for harvesting is in late summer, and so far this year, we have not even started summer. :o(( If the tops had fallen over already then I suppose you had no choice but you say that they were tall so I suspect that that is the problem. You planted at the right time to give them their cold period but harvested too early for their warm period.

Regarding the 'planted at 2" deep" comment - we always plant with the 'nose' of the corm slightly above ground and have always had decent-sized bulbs. I do remember planting garlic corms at the base of roses when I lived in Essex years ago, to deter aphids and to -hopefully- have more garlic to use in cooking, but nothing ever grew from them. Maybe because I used corms from supermarket bulbs or ..... maybe I planted too deep and they rotted before they could grow?

Thank you everyone for all your advice. What a lovely web site this is.