Question
QUESTION: I have an avocado growing in a pot on my porch.
The avocado is 6 months old and 12 inches tall.

About a month ago, this little plant started growing in the pot with the avocado. I left it alone because it's possibly a seed I had planted that somehow got mixed in with my avocado's dirt.

Well, the plant is a little over a month old and taller than the avocado. It is extremely fast growing.

Someone told me it looks like it might be a papaya. I have been trying to germinate papaya seeds.

Do you have any idea what it might be?

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/270390_10150240120714263_62062426

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/264840_10150240120659263_62062426

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/267436_10150240120619263_62062426

ANSWER: Hi Desirai, it is indeed a Papaya!..now it needs to be in a larger container and eventually in the ground if you want it to produce. My next question is if you are in a climate zone that is appropriate for it to grow outdoors, it needs at least a zone 9, for freezing temps during the Winter will assuredly do it in. Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I live in zone 8a, so it probably will not survive our winters. I live in northern Alabama.

However, I will transplant it into its own pot and keep it as a houseplant.

How can I do this without injuring it or the avocado?

ANSWER: ...water the container well,,,and then carefully, using a utensil (either large spoon or even a fork) work around the section where the papaya is and remove it with soil attached, but have the new container and hole dug , so that it is a quick transition, that way there will be little or no transplant shock. After you remove it,,just fill the hole left behind, the Avocado should be fine, because it is a larger seed. Keep in mind that the Papaya will grow what is called a "tap root", so it needs a deeper, rather then wider container. Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: if I keep it in a pot, what are the chances of it fruiting? I don't really mind if it fruits or not regardless (same with the avocado) but it would be really neat!

Thanks for your help

Answer
It needs to be cross pollinated, and only one insect does it, so there won't be any fruit,but it has a nice tropical look to it and it will grow indoors in a large pot, but it will struggle, for it has that deep tap root I told you about, that swells and looks like a big turnip when fully developed, and will fill all but the largest of containers eventually.