Have you ever think of growing pinto beans? Some of the most popular dried beans in the United States are pinto beans. In case having a large enough space for growing a serviceable quantity, you can consider growing pinto beans to use in healthful soups, burritos, refried beans, and many other dishes. In this article, we will recommend you some tips to grow pinto beans.
Planting pinto beans
As the first item among the tips to grow pinto beans, you must know that planting pinto beans is such a simple process that can be used by kids for their science projects. The beans will absorb moisture and germinate quickly. Then it will lead to a large and recognizable leaf. The process of planting pinto beans is easy to handle.
For planting pinto beans, consider choosing a protected location from the excess wind. Besides, you should not choose a place in which the beans have been grown in the past three or four rotations. To amount to a hill of beans, a fairly large space for your crop is needed.
Legumes such as pinto beans can be excellent companion plants to squash, corn, cucumbers, strawberries because they can fix nitrogen in the soil for their neighbors. But keep in mind that pinto beans can’t get along with garlic or onion.
Growing pinto beans from seed
For growing pinto beans, soil temperatures should reach about 60 degrees F. Then, consider planting the beans directly in the soil, about 1-2 inches deep, and 4-6 inches apart in 21-30 inch rows. If you plant them below the recommended density, they will be less productive because they need good air circulation.
Since they add nitrogen to the soil, it is good for them to be treated with specific bacteria. They send nitrogen to their neighboring plants with the help of these bacteria. Consider presoaking and then rolling the beans in inoculant or sprinkling inoculant at planting time. Now let’s take a look at some tips to grow pinto beans.
Tips to grow pinto beans at home
Light, soil, and nutrients
It is important to know that these beans will grow best in full sunlight. Soil that contains too little iron and too much phosphorous with poor drainage is not suitable for growing pinto beans.
How much water do pinto beans need to grow?
Bean plant absorbs most of their required water from the top 18 inches of soil. Keep in mind not to overwater shallow soil, with hardpan or clay underneath. Consider watering regularly through vegetative and flowering phases. When the beans start to fill out, cut off irrigation. Overhead watering should not be applied in the evening because it may lead to diseases.
Temperature and humidity
Just like other beans, warm soil is preferred by pinto beans. Extremely hot weather may prevent their later development.
Common pests and diseases
The beans should be monitored for their typical pests and pathogens. Bean leaf beetle, stinkbugs, and whiteflies bother planted beans. Moreover, mold rust may cause damages and reduce yields.
How to harvest pinto beans
You can start harvesting the beans when the pods are yellow, dry, and ready to be opened. Consider picking them before it succeeds in popping the seeds out. You can uproot the determinate plants and hang them up to dry.
You can thresh beans and crush the dry pods by wrapping the pods in a tarp or a pillowcase. You can pop them open by hand and blow away the debris. Before storing, consider checking for bugs and ugly beans. Store the dried beans in a clean, airtight container at a cool temperature.
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