GSF, yes you can cut the shoots and plant it, but i would wait until harvest. At that time, the roots will come out of the joint below the shoots. Cut a few inches below the joint and plant it, this will increase a higher % of survival for the shoots. You can also use the tip of the cane to plant too. The best time to harvest is to wait for frost to set in. This will increase the sweetness for the cane, but whenever the cane is old enough you should harvest, otherwise the center of the cane will have a red line. Enjoy your sugarcane!
william kc