How to grow Pinto Bean

Phaseolus vulgaris

Full Sun
Medium

Fertilizing:
All legumes, such as beans and peas, are self-fertilizing. In fact, they leave more nitrogen in the soil than they use up. So they really don’t need to be fertilized, but what you can do is give them a boost with some “innoculant” (available at any garden center) which helps the plants fix nitrogen in their roots.¹

When the plant has grown to the top of the support, nip out the top shoot to encourage flowering

Special Tip:
To avoid any potential problems with weevils, freeze the well-dried beans for several hours before storing.¹

Growing Pinto bean from seed

Soak beans in de-chlorinated water for about 2 hours before placing in soil. Do not soak for too long.
Sow direct or plant two seeds in a 7cm pot and germinate under cover,when plant has at least two true leave start to get the plants used to garden conditions ready to plant out

Ensure a distance of 3.96 inches (10.16 cm) between seeds when sowing - look to sow at a depth of approximately 1.49 inches (3.81 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 16°C / 61°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Pinto bean about 1 days after your last frost date .

Transplanting Pinto bean

Plant out when all danger of frost has past. The beans require support of a frame and string or a bamboo pole to climb. Choose a sheltered and sunny position

Ensure that temperatures are mild (minimum night temperatures should be around 16°C / 61°F) and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Pinto bean is a tender plant.

Harvesting Pinto bean

Harvest when the bean pods are completely dry and beans can barely be dented when bitten. Shell pods individually or thresh them by putting them in an old pillowcase and walking on it until the pods are completely crushed. Remove the chaff by pouring the beans back and forth between two bowls in a windy, or breezy, area, or in front of a fan. Store in air-tight jars or bags in a dry, cool place.¹

Seed Saving Pinto bean

When the dry beans have been harvested freeze them for an hour or so, as this will kill any grubs that would spoil the beans on storage

How long does Pinto bean take to grow?

These estimates for how long Pinto bean takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Pinto bean to germinate?: 10 days
Average 10 days | Min 7 days | Max 15 days (4)
Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Pinto bean?: + 0 days
Average 0 days | Min days | Max days (0)
Days to Maturity How long until Pinto bean is ready for harvest / bloom?: + 90 days
Average 90 days | Min days | Max days (0)
Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Pinto bean?: = 100 days

When should I plant Pinto bean?

Our when to plant Pinto bean estimates are relative to your last frost date.

When to sow The number of days to sow Pinto bean before or after your last frost date.: 1 days after Last Frost Date

Pinto bean Etymology

The botanical epithet is from the Latin vulgaris meaning “common”

Other names for Pinto bean

Mottled bean, Frijol pinto, Frijol, Kievitsbonen, Spikkelbonen

Footnotes

¹ Growing Pinto, Navy, Kidney, Black-Eyed, Garbanzo Beans Guide