to old for pests

[andiewill]

i was told by my mum that when a plant gets to a certain height the leafs get to tough for pests ie:- slugs / snails to eat, is this correct as the reason my mum gave me for this, is that slugs and snails like the tender leafs which makes sence to me.

Can somebody clarify as i would like to transfer some of my window seedlings to plants outside as they are of a decent height ?

corn approx 12''
toms approx 8''

plus do i support these with a stick.

[MKG]

What actually happens is that the plants, given a good chance, outgrow the depredations of the slugs. The plants grow leaves faster than the slugs can eat them. They still chomp away merrily, though - it's just that a young plant losing four leaves will die (or even disppear from the face of the earth) whereas an older, more established, one has a chance of surviving the picnic. I'm sure your Mum is right - slugs prefer young growth - but they'll have a go at anything if they're hungry.

[red]

they do get tougher - courgette plants develop tough spikey stems and leaves.. and once they get to a size the slugs dont touch them - but slugs will demolish younger plants.