Tried a late sowing of peas a few weeks ago, straight into the ground and they are starting to come up now - will know if a few weeks how well or not it has worked - I've also sown peas direct but will be trying the gutter method next year as I do lost some to mice.
Am going to sow some dwarf french beans this week, will go straight into the ground also though this thread is making we think about doing a few in root trainers, so maybe I will half and half them.