[Tattieman69]

how long can you leave an early crop in the ground?
 

[Shadrak]

They will be ready in around 10 weeks.Can keep them in longer than that but the more time they are in the ground the more risk the slugs will feast on them.

[Bram]

they'll be ok  for quite a while, but  if you are a gannet like me   you will soon eat them, having said that its best to grow what you think you will use and prolong the season with 2nd earlies and then main crop

[Tattyanne456]

do you mean when the helms have died off? I'm not sure, but I like to get mine out of the ground as soon as they are ready, because IMHO the longer they are left in the ground the higher the likelihood of them being attacked by wireworms, slugs and any other little pest. Though I think you could probably leave them in the ground for some time, but dont you want to use that bit of space for something else?