Aw, g'wan, start some indoors - they're
easy. You don't need any different facilities than for starting any other seeds, really.
The don't want to be real cold at the beginning. So either start them somewhere in your house where it is normal heated-room temperature, or if they're in a cool room or basement give them a heat mat or homemade equivalent. Once they get to be a couple true leaves, they benefit from cool nights if you can arrange it (but will tolerate not having cool nights if you can't).
Once the first sprouts show, give them a light (like a 2-bulb fluorescent, doesnt have to be grow bulbs) about 2" above them. Raise it as they get taller. DO NOT try to make a serious humidity chamber around them like a sealed greenhouse or whatever, it's asking for damping off. You can partially enclose them if your air is quite dry but really just keep them moist and protected from serious prolonged drafts and they'll be fine with the open air. Some air movement is highly beneificial - not only does it reduce/prevent damping-off, it also makes them grow stronger. Ruffle them with your fingers a few times a day if there is never any breeze where they are. Make sure to harden them off before putting in garden, just like anything else.
Truly, they are EASY
You can save part of the packet to plant later, perhaps direct-sown outdoors, too. So it is not really either/or
(Direct sown long-season tomatoes you may not get as good a crop out of, though, perhaps even in LA, because they'll start to bear so much later than ones started indoors)
Have fun,
Pat
).
