Preventing Autos flowering early outside

I'm in New York, zone 7 a/b. It's tough with photos out here since the humidity usually encourages bud rot. So I'd like to try growing autos outside.

Every auto I've tried to grow outdoors ends up flowering way too early. like 6 inches early.

Is there some special trick to doing this? I'm guessing it's the actual transplant itself or the soil/air temps perhaps?

I will be growing in the ground.

Thanks.

Auto means you can’t control it. It flowers when it wants to.