Pinto beans are relatively easy to grow and chock full of nutritious, cholesterol-lowering fiber. Pinto bean plants are simple to grow and care for, making them a great addition to your garden. The right planting site is essential for growing pinto beans. Also, crop rotation every year is necessary. With the right conditions, however, you can have a healthy crop of pinto beans each season.
Plant your pinto bean seeds in well-drained, fertile soil that has a “crumbly” texture. Avoid planting in heavy clay soil. Make sure that you select a site that receives full, direct sunlight.
Fertilize the soil before planting the seeds. Use a 5-10-10 fertilizer that is low in nitrogen. Turn the soil while incorporating the fertilizer approximately 6 inches deep. After planting, fertilize the soil regularly using one cup per 50 feet of row, watering lightly afterward.
Plant your pinto beans after the last frost has occurred and the soil is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant the seeds 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep, spacing the seeds 2 to 4 inches apart in rows that are 2 to 3 feet apart.
Water your pinto bean plants regularly to avoid extremes in soil moisture levels, which can cause malformed pods or the pods and blossoms to drop off. Give your pinto bean plants 1 inch of water per week.
Control weeds by hoeing around the pinto bean plants. Use a shallow stroke with the hoe, because the pinto bean plants have shallow roots. You can also spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch to help control weeds.
Alternate your pinto bean plantings with other crops each year. Crop rotation is important to growing healthy pinto bean plants, because this practice helps to prevent disease.
