I am also of the opinion that I would leave the pods on the plant until the dry out. There is no problem with saving the seed and I know that the exhibition gardeners always looked to save the largest pods with the most seeds in for next year.

Well, if you think what happens in nature to keep them propagated with no human intervention, and then try and emulate it then you won't go far wrong.

So, as others have said, I would leave them as they are for as long as possible.

I didn't want them for seed, I wanted to eat them! The bean rack is suffering in high winds and looking ever more precarious.

I was hoping to harvest the beans from the pods - they are nice in stews and things, but I don't think there are very many - plenty of pods but many are on the thin side and probably empty. I'll salvage what I can and try drying them off the plants. The rack will be taking itself down if we have another strong wind! I agree, freezing the green beans is disappointing.