For month old seedlings they should be much further along so Yes, the odds are it is the potting mix. You said potting soil, correct? Soil-less potting mixes work best for germination. Soil mixes compact in small containers and prevent root development. To fix you just transplant them into a quality soil-less potting mix and they will take off.

They are also leggy which is a lighting problem but can be fixed if you will transplant them deeply - bury all that stem.

The peat pots is a whole other issue but they also contribute to the problems.

There is a great FAQ here with pics on "How to grow tomatoes from seed" you might want to check out.

Dave

Yeah Im pretty sure I used this
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Earthgro-1-Cubic-Foot-Potting-Soil/16904048

Do you think it would be worthwhile to transplant or should I just restart from seed with a better mix (if I have enough time) or scrap it buy seedlings and try again next year?

It is definitely worthwhile transplanting them as long as you transplant them deeply and use a decent mix. They will quickly catch up.

Ideally, pitch the peat pots too. You can switch to small plastic cups with hole put in the bottom of them if nothing else.

If you want to see some really great videos on how to grow them from seed check out Craig's videos on You Tube. Linked below.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: nctomatoman videos

alrighty thanks for the help. Im assuming by plastic cup you are referring to like the solo-esk cups? I had thought about using the mix that I used for my sfg (1/3 verm, 1/3 peat, 1/3 compost) but maybe I can find something at lowes or wally world that would work already mixed up and is soil-less.
On the videos I had watched some of his videos a while ago the dense planting looked like something I might try next year :)

So this evening I transplanted taking your suggestions hopefully they will live. Any idea how long it might be before I know if they made it?

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j39/briandabest/IMG_20120313_205903.jpg

Tomato seedlings are incredibly resilient. I had a mouse last year eat ALL the leaves off of two of my tomato plants just after planting. I thought they were a lost cause, but left them in the soil, more out of laziness than anything. After about a week or so they had sprouted new leaves everywhere.

There are all kinds of sizes of plastic cups available. They range from small 3 oz to 6 oz to 9 oz to 12 oz to the big 16 oz size. That's why I mentioned "small" plastic cups. I sure hope those in your picture aren't the 16 oz big ones for those tiny little plants? If you have to use the big cups for some reason you only fill them 1/2 full and then add more as the plant grows. You put holes in the bottom, right?

I had thought about using the mix that I used for my sfg (1/3 verm, 1/3 peat, 1/3 compost) but maybe I can find something at lowes or wally world that would work already mixed up and is soil-less.

Seed starting is most successful with a sterile soil-less mix and both Lowes and Walmart sell several different brands of it. Plain old cheap Jiffy Seed Starting Mix at $4 a bag works fine.

On the videos I had watched some of his videos a while ago the dense planting looked like something I might try next year :)

His how to transplant video is the one I was referring to so be sure to watch it when you get a chance.

Good luck with your plants. You'll know within 24 hours if they are going to make it or not.

Dave

Well they still seem alive :) and actually i used the 18oz cups lol and filled them up to the top before I saw your reply. But i did drill the holes at the bottom. So I guess we will see what happens lol I ended up getting a seed starting mix from wally and it was very light weight stuff so the roots should have no problems growing in it. Thanks for all the help. Next year I will be doing a lot different ;) its a learning process for me hehe