We are able to sow all our climbing beans direct in the ground (purple beans, runner beans, Borlottis and climbing beans for drying). To make sure, I always sow three beans in each hole. The germination was excellent this year, so today I went along the 6 rows removing the unwanted ones, at the point they had just opened their first proper leaves. I could smell the 'bean shoot' smell as I did it, and wondered why we couldn't eat them. So I trimmed them and simmered them for a few minutes in salted water (as otherwise I think they would have been a little tough) and they were delicious. Has anyone else tried that? I know you can eat pea shoots.
We regularly (not regyully as Jeremy Vine continues to say) eat broad bean tops (taste nice and beats the blackfly). :o Cheers, Tony.