I think you'll do fine with the 3 gallon planters as well. Most autos I've grown have been between 2-3', most of which I topped once and then only LST. You might start with LST only because toping them can put them behind....even though they are programed to start flowering after a specific time topped plants will probably be shorter and may take a week or more to mature to harvest, but you'll probably get better yields and a plant thats topped above the third node is easier to train with LST afterwards, My opinion anyway.