Advice about root veg in container gardens please

[allmytimeonmumsnet]

I have 3 large containers at our school gardening club to grow our veg in. I am planning to grow a row of peas, beans and broad beans along the back of each which is against one of those mesh fences. In the front we will have cabbabge, broccoli and beetroot.

I'm looking out for bins or bags to grow spuds but I'm left with the following: Onions, Parsnips, carrots and leeks.

Can't figure out how to grow them as they need more depth than the containers can give. We have no proper veg patch and I have to take everything home over the summer as there is no outdoor tap for watering.

So any suggestions: I thought I might try the carrots and parsnips in deep pots - I'm out for lots of variety rather than volume so it doesn't matter if we don't grow much. Can I grow onions in tubs? And what about the leeks - the variety I was sent (from the duchy originals organic for schools scheme) is colossus which obviously is going to get quite bit. What can I do? Will feel guilty if I don't at least try.

leeks and onions can go in tubs too - neither need much depth but they will need a bit of feeding and mustn't dry out, especially the onions.

Spuds in an old compost bag is a great trick - plant them in about 30cm of compost and as they grow chuck more compost on them every so often, right up to the base of the top leaves. They will grow more potatoes on the buried stems - you can keep doing this right to the end of term.

Your broccoli is going to get tall with a stalk - you might find it a bit hard to move. and how on earth are you planning to move the climbers - the peas/beans?

no idea about that but whats the schools scheme?My Dad does the school allottment and my school has one too.

Hmm. OK so I hadn't really thought the climbers through. The broccoli will be OK though. They are very long tubs and will take two people to move but will fit in the back of a long wheel base landrover. Just wish I could set up water butts or something to avoid the issue but the head was worried about kids falling in! Actually last year we intended to bring them home and never quite got round to it so maybe it won't happen but I've got to keep them watered somehow. At least in these bigger pots they are less likely to dry out so quickly.

Nickie: the school scheme is duchy originals garden organic for schools . Once you join (just a sign up) the details for the seeds are:
"Heritage Seed for Schools

If you are a school member of our project, remember to send off for your free seeds. This year we have cabbage 'Southampton Wonder', climbing French bean 'Kew Blue', leek 'Colossal', lettuce 'Asparagus', pea 'Carlin', tomato 'Aranyalma'.

If you would like to receive these seeds, please send us an A5 S.A.E with 55p of stamps and we will send the seeds and seed saving instructions. Our contact details are here.

thanks

Instead of growing the climbers up the fence you could make wigwams in the pots with bamboo canes and maybe some pea netting. In theory you should then be able to move them but I'm not sure what sort of vehicle you would be able to get to do it!