why are my garlic plants dying and my runner beans not growing?

[iwouldgoouttonight]

Do you think it could be too much rain? Garlic was fine last week and now looks completely dead. I planted runner beans and they haven't even appeared through the soil yet, I planted them about two weeks ago.

Any ideas?

Runner beans like warmth. Did you plant them in the ground or in pots ? We find it is usually best to start them in pots and then stick them outside in the ground once the weather turns warmer (usually in May - this year isn't playing nicely though !).

I planted them straight into the ground after we had that nice warm week in may. I foolishly thought the warm weather might stay. Do you think they'll come up eventually or do I need to start again in pots?

I feel your pain. My beans were doing beautifully until the weather returned to horrible. The combination of cold, rain and slugs has done them no good at all. This morning I actually had to unpeel several slugs which were wrapped lovingly around their fresh green leaves.

They have probably had it - they may have started and then the slugs sheared them off - slugs love them. Try rootling around in the soil where you planted them and see if there is anything left.

It's not too late to get them started again inside in pots - plant them out once they are about 6 inches high, and protect from slugs until they get going.