Mid september

Okay i've put plants in the ground for the last two years.This year I've noticed the buds look AMAZING....BUT....they are tiny! I can foresee that the two plants are only going to get to half maybe 3/4 of what they would with another month or two. Its Mid-september and they frost is coming in about 2 weeks I'm thinking....i dug out holes about 2-3 feet deep and about 4-5 feet around hoping the plants would grow OUTWARDS not UPWARDS as much(trying to keep them hidden)...am i right to think that wasn't enough and the roots are hitting the hard clay ground that is consistant in my area!!?!!?

Heres a couple of pics with the one good plant I'm working with,you can see how small the budds are but they look good! Turning colour and whatnot...I'll take more if needed??! Any Help/comments would be awesome,thanks!

"Good TO Grow"