Runner bean envy

It seems everybody but me can grow beans this year.

My last chance of a home grown runner bean?

I grew beautiful runner beans last year and preserved some seeds to grow this year.  Regrettably every one fell foul of the slugs before they could get going properly.  I don't use pellets so we resorted to putting rings of salt around our pots.  The shame is it was too little, too late for my poor beans.  I've been looking on with envy at other people's beans climbing well and thriving.  I love runner beans.

A few days ago I discovered two seed beans in a drawer that I'd overlooked.  I decided to try companion planting and stuck them in with my raspberry bush.  I'm hoping that with the salt as a deterrent they will get growing and climbing and then, the prickly raspberry bush will prevent any damage further up.  Today I noticed two shoots, whoop!  Please keep your fingers crossed that they get the chance to produce some beans before it's too late.

What do you grow and how do you prevent pests eating your hard grown produce before you can?