Autumn??

[hilary]

Hi all,
I hate to be a pessimist but I have a horrible feeling that nature thinks it is autumn - I haven't seen a swallow or housemartin here since the beginning of the week. So should I start harvesting carrots and beetroot - I don't want to leave them in the ground for the slugs but neither do I want them to deteriorate in store if they are kept too long. I haven't had any success in keeping carrots in sand - can anyone advise on just how dry the sand should be or the most succesful way?
Thanks
Hilary

[richard p]

the sand should not be too dry, if its too dry the carrots dry out to much, if its too wet they go mouldy, descibing the feel of perfect sand is rather difficult though... bone dry and dusty is too dry, feeling moist is too damp, good luck

[alan refail]

Summer's finally arrived here - swallows and martins aplenty.

Alan

[hilary]

Thanks - looks like it may be a bit of trial and error again - not too dry and not too wet!
Yep swallows and housemartins back - must have just kept their heads low but starting to gather on the wires. Summer apparently isn't going to last - autumn forecast from beg of September. Just hoping they have got it wrong!
Hilary