Catalpa growing too fast?

[Ben]

I grew this Northern Catalpa from a cutting about 4 years ago. This spring the top 7- 8 inches (last years growth) see the picture, started to bud out but died. There were plenty of shoots below that and I let the top one grow. It has now grown 4 feet from that point. The trunk is =BE" thick below the new shoot and above. I'm afraid now that it has grown too fast (soft) and might now survive an Eastern Ontario winter. Last year I removed all but 3 levels of leaves as it grew (there are always 3 at each level). I'm not doing that this year because I have the feeling that the top did not survive because I forced it. Does anybody have any experience with this tree?

[presley]

I grew this Northern Catalpa from a cutting about 4 years ago. This spring the top 7- 8 inches (last years growth) see the picture, started to bud out but died. There were plenty of shoots below that and I let the top one grow. It has now grown 4 feet from that point. The trunk is ¾" thick below the new shoot and above. I'm afraid now that it has grown too fast (soft) and might now survive an Eastern Ontario winter. Last year I removed all but 3 levels of leaves as it grew (there are always 3 at each level). I'm not doing that this year because I have the feeling that the top did not survive because I forced it. Does anybody have any experience with this tree?