Rhiannon Macfie Miller wrote:
You could try starting them off in the greenhouse? I have heavy clay
soil and have learnt through experience that it's better not to attempt
to sow *anything* direct into the ground. I've just planted out the
runner beans that I sowed a couple of weeks ago. I wouldn't have
thought it would be too late to sow them; they'll surely catch up
quickly enough.

Yes absolutely - with the warmth everything's popping up within 6/10
days in my greenhouse - I've even started more broad beans indoors this
week end (the first time I do this), the slugs have had a field trip on
mine with all that bad weather sob