Curious how you know that they are on "day 18 of flower" since it's outdoor? I ask because that's a really specific number and I've been trying to guesstimate when mine switched but not sure beyond a guess.
I'm with you on this. I check on mine once a week, so I can't get much closer than that. And not real sure when to start counting. Is it the first hairs you see? Or when they actually start to twist?
Your plants look good. As long as the smoke is good, I wouldn't worry about size. That will come with time and experience. {that said, pot or hole size makes a ton of difference}
I would consider the start of flowering to be when the plant started producing florigen thanks to the phytochromes getting more darkness. That means that you wouldnt be able to tell visually until for at least about what, a week?
thanks for the advice man, this is my first grow so we learning, im gonna use different soil next year with a bigger hole in the ground. the plant lacked alot of light on the back side until last week when i was able to remove some bushes. hoping i end up with a good yield.