Garlic
My humans eat a lot of garlic so they decided to grow their own. The first time was a disaster as they knew nothing about it and it all rotted. The book said if your garlic (or onions) get this kind of rot, don't plant any alliums on that spot for 20 years!
Well, they tried again in another place.
The old boy (93) on the plot next to them said garlic should be planted in December and he gets his bulb stock from the Isle of Wight. He plants each clove about 3" down. He digs his up when the leaves go yellow and fall down (about now).
He does not water them specifically, but if the weather has been particularly dry (like recently) then he gives them a bucketfull when he remembers (same with his onions, but 'show' onions - special seed too - need cosseting - water, feed and all that to make nice big chaps) . Don't water just before harvest.
Dig them up and lay them in the sun to dry. If it looks like rain take them in. (You could also plat them like the french do and hang them up to dry. Important thing is let them get dry otherwise they will rot.
If you plant the cloves later, then harvesting is a bit later, but planting after January results in very small bulbs, if any at all. You may just finish up with the one clove you planted getting a bit bigger.
Last year they had several small bulbs. This year they hope for something better. So far things look pretty good. Harvesting very soon as tops are gowing nice and yellow. Hope this helps!
Ultimately, I suppose, it's what works for you, but the general principle helps - there are as many ways as there are old boys!