Is there an ideal 'way up' for planting these seeds?
To save the plant time, I'm thinking of the plant trying to orientate it's root and stem.
:)
I just shove them in and don't worry. They grow fast enough once they get started!
Regardless of which way they are planted, root cells know to go down, and shoot cells up. Even my chitted peas and beans soon find their way when planted, I don't always manage to get them in the 'right way up'. I don't think it slows the plants up, as long as the seeds are not planted so far down they run out of steam to reach the light they will be fine.
Don't plant the broad beans "flat" as water can sit in the depression on the sides of the bean and there is more chance of them rotting. I don't think this matters too much with runners though.