Yes, watering makes all the difference. Last year I planted bean seeds without bother to water them (It’s going to rain tomorrow or the next day anyways…). But it doesn’t. Or not enough. By watering the seeds at planting, and regularly until they pop up, the seeds absorb the water they need and germinate as quickly as soil temperatures will allow. For beans this is 75-80 F and takes about 7 d. With ideal temperatures and sufficient water, these bean plants started popping up at Day 5. The shortest germination time means the healthiest seedlings – less insect damage and more resources left in the cotyledons to contribute to a strong start.