Types of Pinto Bean Plants

• Pinto beans grow on bush or pole-type plants. Pole-type plants grow tall and require a trellis or other support. Bush beans are shorter and more compact. Bush bean plants may produce better than pole bean plants in containers.
  
  

Containers for Bush Pinto Bean Plants

• The minimum size for a container is 8 to 12 inches in diameter and 8 to 10 inches deep. However, this type of container may restrict root growth and produce smaller bean plants with lower production. A 5-gallon container produces more space for the roots of bush-type pinto bean plants.
  
  

Containers for Pole-Type Pinto Bean Plants

• Half of a wooden barrel provides space for a tripod trellis. Six to eight foot poles are inserted into the soil and tied together at the top. Plant three to four pole-type seeds around each of the three poles. A long, deep rectangular shape container provides room for the pole-type plants and a trellis.
  
  

Pinto Bean Requirements

• A sunny site and well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8 to 7.0 provide desirable growing conditions for pinto beans. Pinto beans do not tolerate frost. Depending on the location, pinto beans are often planted in May to June when the danger of frost is past and the soil temperature is at least 50 degrees F. The planting depth for pinto bean seeds is 1 to 2 inches. Regular watering and application of a balanced fertilizer is necessary. A balanced fertilizer has a grade of 10-10-10 or 20-20-20.
  
  

Pinto Bean Harvest

• Pinto beans grow well with a long growing season and a dry fall. They prefer a growing temperature of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the pinto bean plant stops growing and the leaves dry and begin to fall off, the beans are ready to harvest. Pick the mature pods and remove the dry beans from the pods. Dry pinto beans store well in covered containers or plastic bags.