pawpaw (asimina triloba ) tree in a container?

Do you think I could successfully (by this I mean get fruit) grow a pawpaw in a container?
I have some very large tubs (21" across by 18" tall). I know that pawpaws have a long tap root.

I once bought a 5 year old pawpaw in a nursery pot, When I planted it I noticed its tap root circled around. It flowered that Spring, and had tiny fruitlets, but dropped them, as there was no other pawpaw pollinator. Then the tree died that very hot summer.

My soil and water is so alkaline, and my Zone 9a SW Houston sun is so hot, that I think I could manage them better in pots. I have blueberries in these containers and they are happy as clams.

Having them in containers would allow me to keep them on my covered patio, while young, then slowly move them out into full sun later. I could also control the soil.

So, has anyone tried this? How big are the trees before they start fruiting?

A tub that big can hold between 20 - 25 gallons of potting mix — big enough for a large shub or small slow growing tree. Pawpaw trees while slow growing can reach a height of 25' or more, but with some re-potting and root pruning when the tree gets pot bound, you might be able to grow it for a while. You will need two different cultivars for pollination or get one that is supposed to be self fertile. Pawpaws begin to bloom when they are between 5 - 7 years and when about 6' tall. They bloom on year old wood so attention needs to be paid to pruning to be sure you leave both new and year old wood on the tree. These links have lots of good information on pawpaws:

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/nexus/asimina_triloba_nex.html
http://www.floridata.com/ref/a/asim_tri.cfm
http://www.racif.com/ziraat/tropikal/pawpaw.htm
http://www.ehow.com/list_7486387_potted-pawpaw-plants.html
http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/pawpawor.htm

i recently got a pawpaw plant from a nursery in leander,tx ... from what i understand they are native and used to be all over tx.... they use special pots there to keep plants from becoming rootbound... can't wait to get this baby in the ground and growing , there are so many listings on here though i'm not sure what to do with it exactly

What is the name of the nursery? Does it take walk in customers?

They grow wild here.