What would be the correct way to plant these flower seeds I've been given? Can I not just plant them in the soil directly?

[DelphiniumDelight]

I was gifted two packets of flower seeds from a friend several months ago. They have been sitting in a drawer for several months because I - rather embarrassingly - am unsure of the correct way to plant them. One is a packet of Delphinium seeds, the others are Lavender.

The back of the packet mentions sowing them in seed trays with compost, then transferring the seedlings to pots, then finally planting them outside. I don't have any seed trays, compost or pots. I do have a garden. Can I not just plant the seeds in the soil, and then they will presumably grow as I water and feed them? Is growing them in trays and compost essential? I'm just not sure what I would need to buy - I've never used compost or trays before. Also, as the pack recommends, how do you stop slugs and snails devouring the young plants before they can grow? My garden is unfortunately riddled with the slimy menaces.

I'd get some seed raising mix and cheap pots to raise them in. You could plant them direct, but it's possible the soil in your garden will be very heavy for them. You could go straight for a larger pot if you want less transferring of seedlings.

To protect from snails you can get covers to put over young plants.

You can improvise seed trays from supermarket meat or veg trays. You could buy a small bag of compost or if that’s not an option put soil from your garden in your makeshift trays. Then plant them up and put on a warm sunny windowsill. That way you’ll end up with little seedlings that you can transplant into the garden once they’re a more robust size and know what they are and not mistake them for weeds

You can use yoghurt pots or old containers like that.
Its very easy.

Yes, improvise with yoghurt pots or any containers you have around the house and sow the seeds indoors first so they can germinate and be planted out when they’re bigger. Keep them moist.