Hum... Something doesn't sound right. My tomatoes, started from seed on 03-11-2012, are a foot tall and begging to be planted out (but we still have frosts here in Indiana). I think I started them too early. My peppers on the other hand are very sad...

Do you have good lighting? Maybe setting them outside in nice weather? In Alabama, your growing season should be underway by now. If they are hardened off enough, I get them out in the garden where nature takes over.

I think I recommend buying a few extra plants to insure you get a good crop. Tell you what, you buy a few tomatoes and I'll buy a few peppers. Maybe next year...

I had not realized it would take so long to get them to the size I am used to getting from the store.

It shouldn't so there is something missing/wrong in your germination routine. 6-8 weeks from sprouting should give you 6-8" tall seedlings.

But that doesn't mean you can't still use them. Start hardening them off - weather permitting - and get them planted in the garden.

I don't recommend it but some folks plant out at the cotyledon stage so it's possible. You just have to take more care and give them a little more protection until they kick into gear.

Dave

After they're hardened off get them into the ground ASAP so they can start growing with the aid of photosynthesis, fresh air too. They will catch up very quick once they're in the ground. As heat comes on quick in the south I would suggest planting in a site with part shade.

I have not fertilized at all so I thought that might be the problem they are planted currently in the peat pellets that I started them in I am transplanting them into bigger pots today so that might help also. I have been putting them out weather permitting for the past couple of weeks sunny days they are outside. They have done better after I put them outside. I was also wondering if I was not watering enough I have been letting the soil get dry before I watered again so that I didn't over water. Is it possible that I went too far the other direction? Thanks for all of your help oh and I did go ahead and buy a dozen little tomato plants just in case :)

i'm far from an expert as this is my first time growing anything, but i did find that my seedlings seemed stunted until i transferred them out of the starter peat pellets and into some good potting soil. the starter peat pellets don't have enough nutrition for continued growth.

Should I when I pot them use seed starter mix or get some garden soil or something like that? I can get that tomorrow :)

I would never use peat pellets to start plants. I think you would have been much better off using a seed starting mix. Once they are large enough to transplant, you can move them to a container with potting soil, and fertilize if the soil doesn't already contain it. I grow tomatoes covered with a dome until I have germination, but as soon as I see green, I remove the dome and place the flat under lights for around 14-16 hours a day. The lights need to be very close. You can use a regular shop light, with a regular bulb, and place the plants about 2 inches from the light source.

Nothing beats sunlight, so as soon as weather permits, they need to be moved outside, but you must do it slowly for about an hour at first, then gradually increasing outdoor time.

I live in Zone 6 and normally start tomato plants around the 20 of February, but I think I started a few days early this year because of the warm weather. Most of mine have been in the ground or in containers for some time now, and range in size from 1 foot to 2-1/2 feet tall, and most are blooming.

Don't give up on yours, but re-pot and fertilize and let them get a few inches taller, then put them outside. Just keep reading about how others do it and you will find a way that will work for you.

I've had great luck starting with peat pellets.

But the thing to remember about peat is that once it dries out, it actually repels water and is very difficult to get wet again. Watering from the bottom and leaving the water in the tray until you're sure the peat has soaked up enough should work -- but I tried not to let it dry out in the first place.

Ok repotting in garden soil and I will let you know how they do :) wish me luck

Peat pellets are fine in my opinion, but one thing to remember is that the plant will be limited by how large its roots can get. Once the plant is completely out of the soil it should be transplanted into a larger container. try not to disturb the roots when doing this, just take the wrapper off of the peat pellet and plant the entire thing into the larger container. I use a 4in square pot as my next container, this allows the plant to develop a good root system to support being transplanted outside.
Once the plant is 3-4 in tall you can start using a very weak nutrient solution, maybe 25-50% of the lowest strength listed on the nutrient bottle.
Make sure you let the top layer of soil dry out almost completely before watering again, this will help to develop roots as the plant will be actively having to seek out water.

Ok repotting in garden soil

Always fill pots with a "mix" -- never anything that says/contains "soil."

Containers filled with dirt don't drain well, and that makes the plants unhappy. So you want to get something that's called "potting mix" or something like that.

Update: the tomatoes are transplanted into the garden and seem to be doing well. Once I got them into the little pots they doubled in size. I used the garden soil as an intermediary to the dirt in my garden. I was afraid that a potting mix might interfere with the plants adapting to the garden. I have fertilized after planting the tomatoes and am pleased with how they are responding to being in the garden. Now if all goes well I hope they will finish catching up with the plants I bought :) either way they might just be a bit behind which is fine too :) soong as I get my tomatoes I am happy lol

I used the garden soil as an intermediary to the dirt in my garden. I was afraid that a potting mix might interfere with the plants adapting to the garden.

There are several really good reasons for why what you did is NOT a good idea. Damp-off, root rot, compaction, stunting, pests, transplant shock, etc. You were lucky they survived this time. Not an approach to be recommended to others.

Dave