If you planted each of three under identical conditions, I would suspect the seed quality of the two which did not germinate. Soaking will get them up faster in hot dry weather, but if you have adequate moisture in the planting bed, the most you will gain is a couple of days. You may want to do a germination test on your seeds. I just plant them in cups filled with a good growing medium, but you can get get the same results wrapping them in a wet paper towel. You just want to see the percentage that will sprout under ideal conditions. Ten seeds is sufficient for a test.

I received a reply via email. Thanks to the gentleman who is willing to help me out. :D

Thank you so much for your offer Cathybt9, but I just completed a trade with someone else for black bean seeds, so I am all set now.

thanks, jolj, that helps me a lot. Although I grow tomaotes and squash every year, this is my first year of growing beans. I'm a pickle fanatic and love a three bean salad pickle. I planted KY Wonder, a yellow wax, and a red french bean. Then I discovered the french bean would turn green when cooked. That got me started looking for a bean that would stay red, and hopefully, the red noodle will fill that spot. Back to the Cherokee TofT pole bean. I do love black beans. I'm pictureing a 4 bean pickle, by adding not the pods, but the actualy black beans to the mix. Often there are red kidney beans in such a pickle mix, but I think the black beans would look and taste great. Sooooo..... Do I have to dry the black beans and cook them later, or can I just pick the pods, open them and add the beans to the mix? If they are 'raw' as oposed to dry and then cooked, how long do they need to be cooked would you think?