A Pea Bean is a heirloom bean, which has been recorded in the UK since the 16th century. A great all rounder with many uses. The plants climb just like a runner bean or climbing french bean and produce flat pods similar to a large mangetout pea. The can be picked young and used whole as a french bean or left on to mature and shelled like peas, or they can be left to mature fully and dry and then used as any other dried beans.