This is my first year trying garlic, but since no one else has responded here goes...yes, it seems to be normal for fall sprouts. My planted cloves have them, and they were in a very useful the photo tutorial I found here on gardenweb but now can't find second time. This thread was also useful to me, since I've planted my garlic in 11 gal tubs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garlic in containers?

If you plant in late autumn to early winter, when there's some warmth in the soil still, then the roots will start, and pause over winter, then get going again in spring.

It's normal for them to sprout at this time, though they probably won't grow very high yet.

When February comes, or early March, you could feed them with a fertiliser quite high in nitrogen. Ask at your local garden centre.

Keep them well-weeded.

They should be ready late July or early August. Loosen the roots first then pull them up and trim off the roots. Then leave them in the sun to dry for one to two weeks - or out of any rain.

You can trim the tops back to about six inches - or plait them and hang up the bunch for kitchen use.

If you leave them in the ground then some of the bulbs are likely to flower the following year.