We are all still learning. I've been gardening since my parents' vegetable gardens when I was very little. I'm still always learning something new. When you start to become knowledgeable about some topic, the first thing you learn is all you don't know. And there's A LOT that I don't know!

You are going to want to harden your plants off. This is a short time where you allow your plants to become accustomed to the Great Outdoors. Wind, sun, and rain can all damage plants that are not used to them. If you harden your plants, you will greatly increase their chances of survival. I included a link for you below.

FataMorgana

Here is a link that might be useful: Google - hardening off plants

Thank you, FataMorgana, I am container-gardening these plants so I'll transplant them from the little pots into the big pots today and then gradually keep them outside off and off for the next week, then set them out for good.

But you think my month-old tomatoes and spindly basil will survive and in the case of the tomatoes, produce?

They will surely survive. It sounds like you did exactly what they needed by keeping them indoors for your winter weather. Tomatoes and basil like warm soil and you kept them alive! Congratulations! The stems are long because they are wanting more sun than they are getting indoors. But both are hardy plants and should do well once they finally get transplanted. Sounds like your tomato plant is already producing! Good luck!

Also, if your tomato plants are very "leggy" tomatoes are a plant that you can plant deep. If you clip off the bottom leaves you can plant that tomato deep in the soil and it will grow roots along the planted stem area. Good luck! (You can't plant basil that way, though.)

Thank you all, I do appreciate the guidance!

Hey Erin,
I would start to pinch off the basil. They will get longer and "leggy" then flower and bolt. You don't want that. If you start to pinch off the leaves, it will encourage side branches and your basil will be fuller. Good luck!