Feminized plants are just that supposedly female.
An auto flower would grow and then automatically switch to flower no matter the light cycle and then potentially die.
A photo period would veg for as long as the light cycle is longer than it take for it to switch to flower. 18hr inside
Then when light cycle shortens it will flower inside we use, 12hr.
Outside it could start at 14-15hrs .
The flower for a photo period cycle could take 60 or more days to fully mature a female plant.
Hope this helps , Enjoy