I am growing 6 Drumstick Trees in 10" pots. (FYI if anyone wants 2 Drumstick Trees in 10" pots and lives in the Charlotte area let me know.)

Here is the problem. Never have grown a tree from a seed so don't know what is normal. They are growing tall but not branching out. The trunk looks like it is starting to turn to wood but I am not sure. How can I encourage it to branch out because it just looks like leaves and I worry. A few leaves are turning yellow and curling and falling off too. Are my poor dears sick?

I live in NC which is in Zone 7. I am not sure if I should plant my two now in the ground or wait till spring to do it. Is a 10" pot big enough to get them through the winter? They are easily 4' tall right now and it won't be below freezing for atleast a month more.

I am not growing my trees for production so much. Eventually I will pinch off the terminal tip just waiting for when they are a bit taller. I want to keep them a reasonable size. Not 50'!!!