I put them in very late in the hope that we would be able to eat them on christmas day. I grew them in trugs and they are still in there now.

I don't want to lose them, they are in well draining compost as it was mixed with sand

would I be better lifting and trying to store, or leaving them in the pots...

Store them in a cool dry place in sand.

But cover it else cats come and use it as a litter tray as I found out last year.
:(

when do I lift them though???
what type of sand?
sorry for all the questions, but it would be awesome to have home grown veg on christmas day!