I did the same thing. I planted peas on my hoop trellises April 5th, and they are only now emerging. They took over 3 weeks to grow an inch out of the ground. I thought they'd be farther along by now.

I guess I will just plant the beans under the peas on June 1st, and let them grow up and over the pea vines as they die off. Maybe remove lower leaves so the sun gets to the bean sprouts.

You are a bit farther south than me so should have a few more weeks growing time. I wouldn't plant any later than June 1 for beans, and even that isn't quite enough for some long season beans like large limas. You could start beans in peat pots if you want them to get more time. Just make sure to break off the tops of the pots to below soil line when you plant them, so they don't dry out.

Yeah, I think about mid to late may for me is giving the peas nine weeks. They are about an inch or two tall now, and doing well enough. If all else fails, I can rip them out a bit early. But popping them in your mouth off the vine is the best!

Kim

"...then replace them with runner beans later on."

If you mean "runner beans" as in Scarlet Runner, following the peas would be too late. You would be in the hotter days of Summer by the time they began to flower, and runner beans need cooler weather to set pods.

If you mean pole snap beans, you could even wait as late as July to plant them, and still get a good Fall crop. For pole beans grown for shellies or dry seed, though, July would probably be too late.

I want to second zeedman. I planted additional pole beans last year at the end of July, and actually got beans to eat in September and October. I was picking them very small, and I didnt get lots, but certainly planting them up to mid June you should be able to get a decent crop.

Yeah, now that I think about it, maybe "runner bean" was the wrong term to use. I think pole bean is a better term. I definately don't have Scarlet Runners. More Kentucky Wonders, etc. Good info to know, as my dad would be really disappointed without his beans. :)