Pete, give them a head start. separate some for later, start slowly. How about planting them in the ground sticking their feet under a compost pile, putting an upside bucket over their tip, with mulching aroundthe bucket so, there is some cold protection...and you will be shocked to see how they will root, but slowly, so by spring, you can just dig them out. http://www.flickr.com/photos/familykovach/3420498340/ I will find the other pic, where the branch grew from the container...the warm of the pile will keep it alive, leaving some outside will prevent from composting, it will root, rather.