Pinto beans take three to four months to grow into a mature plant and can be a bit of a hassle, but if properly cared for, they will produce satisfactory yields. If you plant them around May and watch them grow, you will be ready to harvest them in September.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Preparation
Step 1. Sow pinto beans around May
If you live in an area with four seasons, sow seeds in the spring as the threat of freezing temperatures has passed completely.
- Pinto beans require soil conditions of around 21° Celsius to germinate properly.
- This plant also takes about 80 to 140 days without freezing temperatures to reach the final stage of growth.
Step 2. Choose a planting location that gets full sun
Pinto beans need at least six hours of direct sunlight to mature properly.
Make sure you have not planted any other legumes at the planting site in the last three years
Step 3. Change the soil conditions
The soil should be loose, absorb water well, and fertile. Consider mixing mature compost into the soil to improve soil conditions before planting beans.
- Also note that the soil pH should range from 6.0 to 7.0. If the test results show a reading below 6.0, add lime or wood ash to increase it. If the test results show a number above 7.0, add organic matter such as pine leaves or peat to lower it down.
- You may consider adding a pinto bean inoculant to the soil. Inoculants are not essential, but can help the plant supply its own nitrogen more effectively.
- Make sure the compost and changes made to the soil reach a depth of 15 cm.
Step 4. Choose the type of pinto beans you want to grow
Pinto beans come in “bush” (growing alone, without support) and “pole” (vines) varieties.
- Bush beans are easier to grow, but yield little yield.
- Pole varieties require pegs, lanyards or such a support system, but tend to produce higher yields.
Step 5. Soak the beans
Place the beans you want to plant in a bowl of water and make sure the beans are soaked overnight before you sow them the next day.
- Beans should be soaked for at least 8 to 24 hours before planting.
- Soaking the beans will prepare the beans for germination.
Step 6. Set up a buffer system, if necessary
If you are growing a pole variety instead of a bush, install a vine, pole, or vegetable cage before planting the beans.
The support system used should be about 1.8 to 2 meters high. Ideally, the texture of the support surface should be fairly rough, so that the tendrils will be easier to climb over
Part 2 of 4: Planting
Step 1. Leave the distance between the planting holes as wide as 7.5 cm
Each hole should be about 2.5 to 5 cm deep.
Pinto beans don't grow well when moved, so you should plant the seeds directly in the ground, instead of early sowing indoors
Step 2. Plant the seeds
Place one nut in each hole. The eye on the pinto bean should be facing downwards.
For standard or light soil, cover the sown seeds with a layer of loose garden soil. If the soil is heavy and dense, cover the seeds with sand, peat, vermiculite, or mature compost
Step 3. Do adequate watering
You shouldn't soak the seeds, but you should make sure the soil has enough moisture to promote better sprout growth.
- Water the seeds well immediately after planting.
- If your area doesn't get a lot of rain or it doesn't rain, do a second watering three to four days after planting.
Step 4. Separate the sprouts
Once the sprouts appear, separate the sprouts further apart, so that they are about 15 cm or more apart.
- Consider widening the gap if you are growing bush beans instead of pole.
- Pinto beans usually take between 8 and 14 days to germinate if the soil temperature is consistently between 20° to 27° Celsius.
Part 3 of 4: Daily Care
Step 1. Do adequate watering
Allow the soil to dry before watering again.
- Pinto beans can withstand mild drought conditions, but if the roots get wet, they can rot.
- Pour water at the base of the plant, directly into the soil. Avoid watering the leaves because wet leaves can grow mold and be infected with similar fungal diseases. You should water the plants early in the morning so that the plants and soil have enough time to dry before the moisture that accompanies twilight drops.
- Pinto beans should get an average of 2.5 cm of water per week.
- Withholding water is especially important once the pea pods begin to reach maturity as this can help the beans dry out while they are still attached to the plant.
Step 2. Use mulch
Mulch can keep the soil warm for a longer period of time, thereby extending the growing season. In addition, mulch also helps prevent or minimize weeds.
- Mulch can also help prevent pea pods from rotting if any of them grow low to the ground. In addition, mulch also maintains soil moisture so that it is always consistent.
- Black plastic mulch works very well. Organic mulch, such as weathered straw, untreated grass clippings, grated bark can also be a good option.
- Mulch should be made to a depth of 5 to 7.5 cm.
- Add mulch as soon as the soil warms up.
- If weeds appear, remove them carefully by hand. This plant has a shallow root system that can be disturbed very easily. Perhaps the best way to deal with this is to trim the tops of the weeds with a garden hoe, only hoeing the surface. Weeds may grow back from the roots, but over time the plant will die, and the roots of the pea plant will eventually be safer.
Step 3. Fertilize only once
Use compost tea or a similar fertilizer about halfway through the growing season.
- The best fertilizer for pinto beans is one that is rich in phosphorus and potassium.
- Pinto beans supply their own nitrogen, so it's best to avoid using nitrogen-rich fertilizers. If the leaves start to blanch, the plant may not be getting enough nitrogen. In this case, you should apply an organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion which can inject a quick dose of nitrogen.
Step 4. Train the plant vines
If you are growing the pole variety, you will need to train the tendrils to grow vertically for the first few weeks.
- Tie the vine to the support system you have installed using soft thread or small strips of fabric.
- As the vine grows longer, tie it higher along the support system. However, never pull the vine until it almost breaks.
- After a few weeks, the plant usually starts to grow vertically on its own and doesn't require any more training.
Step 5. Beware of pests and diseases
Pinto beans are susceptible to fungal diseases and several pests including ticks, leafhoppers, mites and beetles.
- Prevent fungal diseases by keeping the leaves from getting wet and the roots from getting waterlogged.
- Good air circulation should also help prevent diseases such as blight and mosaic disease.
- If you find pests, use an organic pesticide spray, remove them by hand, or spray them with a garden hose.
- Rabbits and deer also pose a threat to pinto beans because these animals like to eat bean leaves. If these animals start to cause problems, install a pest net or fence to keep them from the plants.
- Fungicides can also be used if you notice signs of fungal disease, but opt for an organic one if you plan to actually harvest and consume the pinto beans that are produced later.
Part 4 of 4: Harvesting
Step 1. Wait for the beans to dry
Most pinto beans will reach this stage between 90 and 150 days.
- Bush variety beans reach maturity at the same time, so you can harvest them all at once.
- Pole varieties produce multiple harvests and should be picked regularly so that more beans can grow.
- Be aware that a mature bean will barely bend if you bite into it.
- If the weather starts to get damp and the beans haven't completely dried, remove the entire plant after most of the leaves have died, then hang it upside down in a dry, well-ventilated location. Pea pods can complete the drying process in this way.
Step 2. Peel the peanut shell
You can peel the pinto pea pods individually by hand or in batches.
- To peel a large number of pods, put the pods in an old pillowcase and trample for a minute or so until the pods crumble and open.
- You can get rid of the crushed shells by pouring the seeds back and forth between two containers or letting them sit in a breezy area.
Step 3. Freeze the beans for some time
Place the nuts in a freezer-safe container and let them sit in the freezer for a few hours before transferring them to long-term storage.
This additional step can help prevent problems with beetles and similar pests
Step 4. Store nuts in a cool place
Place the peeled and cooled nuts in an airtight jar and store in a cool, dry place, such as the kitchen or basement.
