First, how do you dry them (with or without the pod being on)?

Second, when to plant them?

Third, is it true that they will take over the garden?

Fourth, does any cook with them?

2. Spring (Not hardy)

3. No

4.Yes

Eat the inside bit of the bean it is very tasty.

BTW I mentioned the outer shell of the beans not being good for you because I remember you saying you were from cagen stock and the bean skin is particularly nasty to mediteranian peoples. Personally I can eat all the bean including the pod and so far I have been OK but other people get really sick. Saying that my ancesters come from an Island off Scotland farming sheep for Probably more than a thousand years, this is about as far away from the med as you can get still being in Europe.

I guess having to peel the beans would be a right pain in the rear end and like I said we eat them in stews, curries, chilis and also just steamed or boiled. I suppose the easiest thing for you to do is feed a close relative that you dont like and see what happens.

Now I am going to give you your English lesson for today: American pole bean is English runner bean and American Fava bean is English Broad bean. Lesson over.

Thanks for the lesson and you may have just solved my medical mystery with P2. For a week he's had this blisters and welps on his hands. It wasn't until I read your post that the light bulb turned on. He's been playing with that pod and took it to school last week and then the welps started on his hands. The only thing different that he's been doing latley is taking that pod to school.

First thing: take the bean and or pod away from the kid right now.

It seems as though the most allergenic part is the pollen, this will have nasty reactions straight away to people that do not have some protein in there body.

Second in allegenic affect is the outer layer of the bean. The reaction can take a couple of hours.

Normal reactions can take the form of: Vomiting, nausea, collapse and death in 10% of cases.

They do not list any skin reaction as a symptom but I wouldn't take the chance especially if he has been playing with it.

There is a load of stuff on the internet about this and the poison centers have full lists of symptoms. Use the BROAD BEAN name in searches.

The allegenic reaction is called favism.

It's a good thing that I posted my question here and thank you so much Britboy!