Very nice Geno.
Cover them early with a raised net, otherwise they would steal them even when green.
Being in ground,I would be interrested to learn how it does next season. Had I grafted any of my in ground Col de Dame, in TX, I'm almost sure that I would've lost those grafts.
I'm getting new growth each season while the old wood dies on me. The only tree with minimum loss is the Col de Dame Gris which is the hardiest of the three.