I planted them 3 weeks ago and had a germination rate of about 10% and the ones that did grow have either died or have not put out any true leaves yet and are stuggling at best. The weather is cold a majority of the time, 55-60 max hgh with 1-2 days every coule weeks in the low 70's. I have them in a mixture of peat moss and compost that has everything else growing like a weed. Is it simply too cold still? I don't want to start them inside because every time I did it last year they died when I put them outside.
My peas are even slowly coming up (second planting they were so slow in the first planting the slugs ate them). It has been a wet miserable spring and now summer in the Pacific Northwest. Looks like it is going to be one of "those" years. We've been spoiled the last three years with warm, sunny summers. This is more the norm. Best spinach growing weather and my chard looks lovely. If you like cole crops they will do well. You can sprout the seeds inside and as soon as you see root growth, plant them outside. This will keep the seed from rotting in the ground and usually works for me with tenders like beans, cukes and squash. I agree with you that they don't transplant well outside. I like the scarlet runner beans, because of the flowers and hardiness of the beans. The actual bean is not as tender and has a bit more flavor than the green lakes, but does well for me (I think they are good eating and drying beans). A neighbor used to always plant everything about the last week of June or first week of July and seemed to get as much or more in produce as I did. In our cool, damp climate I am beginning to see the wisdom of her ways. I planted my tomatoes in the garden, but have kept the little green house/cold frame over them. The little covered space heats up just about right during the day and keeps the cold rain off, so they are doing OK. Dang slugs have grown huge! Best slug growing weather ever.
My sons picked the right plants, radishes and sugar snap peas, they are growing like weeds and won't stop. I will have to start some inside and then move them to the greenhouse before putting in the outside pots. Has worked for everything else with no hardening off neded so I hope that works. Good info on the neighbor that plants late June early July and still gets heavy yields.
I think that's a little cold. I wouldn't put out summer veggies in those temperatures unless they were under some sort of protection. Everything you've described I direct sow in the garden. I have all the crops you mentioned in raised beds. The only ones I had to get out early were the cucumbers. I planted the seeds and put a wall of water filled plastic bottles around them. I covered them with that commercial frost blanket. It worked.
Temps again for the next week are supposed to be: Highs in the upper 50's, Lows in the mid to upper 40's. I am thinking it will be until after the 4th of July before I can put the cukes and zukes out and have much of a chance. I will try here really soon anyway but won't be holding my breath because my gourds have failed 3 times and my newest crop is not looking any better. The last time we had a year like this the average high for June, July and August was only 64F and lows averaged 52F. Not a good sign at all.
You could try using a clear plastic tent cover. It is working well for my tomatoes. I'm not bothering with much in the way of vegies. Slugs are the worst I've ever seen them and are eating everything I like. We'll see if the green beans make it or are eaten by critters. On the bright side the blueberries are the biggest ever :-D and should start ripening soon.
