More attempts at growing fruit trees

My avocado pit finally split open to reveal a very ugly little stalk! The whole thing reminds me of the pirhana plants on Super Mario Brothers! I also planted a peach pit but I am not sure if the pointy end is supposed to go up or down...so far no activity there. A lot of people are astonished that you really CAN get a viable apple tree from planting the seeds from one you ate. Didn't anyone else's parent's tell them that it was okay to chuck a core out the window because it was like planting a tree?!?! :P Or how about "If you swallow an apple seed you'll have one growing in your stomach." I planted a second avocado just for fun but it hasn't done much yet. I am thinking of making a temporary greenhouse in my basement from plastic sheets and a grow light for the winter. I would hate to see all my little babies die after all the hard work I put in! I do have some natural light coming in down there and I could probably rig up some kind of grow light.
The palm seeds I am germinating have yet to produce a damn thing. Its perfect weather right now too...hot, humid, and bright sun. The summer in Vermont is actually almost unbearably hot at times, very tropical mostly. A lot of rain and a lot of humidity. Maybe I am not using the right kind of medium.