F 1 hybrids usually are more vigorous, productive and uniform than standard varieties. To enjoy fresh vegetables over a long season, make an early spring planting and a summer planting for late harvest. Most bush beans have a bland flavor compared to the stronger characteristic flavor of the pole beans.
Smaller heads are good for cooking and for salads, larger heads for making kraut.
Reds mature later. This is not required for purple varieties and some of the new white ones. Slicing and pickling varieties are listed separately, but most picklers make acceptable slicers when the fruits mature. Leaf lettuce is high quality and the plants can be productive for a long period if you pick the leaves rather than cutting the plant. It also produces earlier than the crisp-head varieties.