I wonder if something is eating them? I planted some bush beans a week ago and there is no sign of them. It's certainly warm enough and wet enough. OTOH it could be the variety as I planted Fortex pole beans which sprouted a week before the runner beans planted at the same time in the same row! I always save my own seeds, so I know that they are fresh.

Interesting idea, wonder what's active in the soil now that wasn't two months ago?

Wet soil is bad for beans, even when hot. Maybe some disease/ problem was left over from the previous beans, and attacks the vulnerable seeds trying to sprout?

The seeds I planted around Summer solstice tended to grow odd, the seedling were often weak and grew thinner and more vine-y. Not sure why.

Hmmm.....Did you buy these seeds new this year? The only reason I'm asking is because I bought Blue Lake bush beans (Burpee) this year and they sprouted okay when I planted them in May, but about a month later I planted more and many of them did not sprout. I have to say, though, that until now, I've grown the blue lake pole beans, which have always sprouted. My other bush beans (Maxibel, Romano) did fine. I did start to wonder about the Burpee seeds that were sold this year.

I'm inclined to go with the pest &/or disease thing. Now that things have warmed up, there's likely much more activity than there was when it was cooler.

We have things like wireworms, grubs and other larvae that burrow through the soil and feed on tender shoots & roots here.