Ever grow a palm tree?

Surfinbride

How great would it be to have your own fresh cocounts?!

... well, that's what I thought. So, I started researching it.

It seems as though they don't grow easily in many places in the US. Hawaii and Florida are good. I'm hoping I could grow them at my mom's house in the New Orleans area. She has a big sunny yard and lots of humidity.

I read the directions for growing them on davesgarden. It said it's best to get mail-order starters. Basically, it looks like a coconut with a shoot coming out of an eye and some palm leaves. They did not say where I could order that.

Do you know?

I'm willing to commit to the many years it takes to grow them, but I want to start with the best quality I can.

If you know of a source, please post a link.

Thanks

*speedracer*

we have date palms and other palms here in phx but i've never seen coconut palms.  i think you need to be able to keep them warm year round so they tend to grow & produce fruit where the temperatures do not vary much. 

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tropicalfruits/msg0500034726932.html

britishbride05

too bad i can't send you the huge ones we have growing in our front yard!!  they're dangerous, though... my mom almost got hit in the head by a falling coconut last mother's day.  they fall from out of nowhere!