If the choice is only pull them now or abandon them then you might as well pull them. But wait until the last minute to do so.

No way you can come back and get them a month from now?

Dave

The new family won't be moving in for a few weeks but there'll be no one to water them. Is bulb size the only thing that'll be affected if I pull it early? I've read that it's better to wait about 2 weeks after it sets scapes because the garlic stores better but there are only about 5 bulbs so I'm not too worried about storage.

Well if the family will let you come back in a month or so to harvest them. Wouldn't they let you stop by and water them? Just bring a 5 gallon bucket already full of water with you and you are good to go. Or leave one already full there when you leave, with 5 plants that should be enough for a few weeks.

For only 5 bulbs then I wouldn't worry about it. All depends on how far you are moving and how much effort you want to put into such a small amount.

Dave

Unfortunately I'll be too far away to come back and water them regularly. I think I'll just end up pulling them on our last day there which might be into the first week of June.

Not sure where you are other than your USDA zone. My garlic here in Missouri is usually pretty close to done growing by the first of June. It may still put on a little more bulb size and brown up a little more by the middle of June when I start harvesting the early varieties.

Dig them, let them cure with the leaves and roots attached, unless it is some extremely rare personal variety just eat it over the coming weeks. Buy new seed garlic for fall planting. No problems.