How long palm tree takes to grow

When I was growing up, there was this palm tree that simply grew itself in between the gutter and the low wall. Nobody put it there. In one of the dry seasons of the year, the palm tree just showed up. Nobody bothered to cut the palm tree because nobody wanted to take the responsibility of deciding that the palm tree should go.

For many years, the palm tree was simply a hard, unremarkable thing sticking out of the cracked earth. It would take the palm tree nearly 20 years to look like it was worth bothering about at all.

Not all palm trees grow at the same rate. This is something you might end up forgetting if you're trying to plant some. Some palm trees really take off growing. They could take anywhere from five to six years before they start holding themselves up with some weight. Some palm trees take 20 to 30 years before they even start to be what they should be. This is longer than some people will spend working their way up in the career of their choice.

I have spoken to an agronomy extension worker, mainly dealing with dryland crops, and he said he gets all sorts of questions. Questions about palm trees, questions about whether it is worth investing in palm trees. Well, his answer to all those questions is that it completely depends on the variety that you are dealing with and what exactly you are waiting for.

But then, when they ask him when is the time to start reaping the rewards, when is the time of waiting over, he goes completely haywire, and he says he's not going to be able to give you any kind of answer.