Pinto Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris • Fabaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Legume
🌍 Origin Region
Central and South America
📅 Days to Maturity
90 to 150 days from planting to dry bean harvest, or around 60 to 90 days for fresh green snap beans.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 11, grown as a warm-season annual everywhere.
About This Seed
Oval-shaped, kidney-like seeds with smooth, mottled brown and beige seed coats, shown here actively germinating with robust white radicles emerging. The resulting plant is a bushy or climbing annual vine producing edible pods and nutrient-dense dry beans.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Spring and Summer, direct sow after all danger of frost has passed
Germination
Germination takes 4 to 8 days at optimal soil temperatures between 60°F and 85°F. High germination rate. Does not require light for germination.
Planting Instructions
Plant seeds 1 inch deep, spaced 2 to 4 inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart. Prefers well-draining loam soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (6 to 8 hours daily). Water regularly at the base to keep soil moist but not waterlogged; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Companion Plants
Beneficial companions include corn, squash, rosemary, and marigolds. Avoid planting near onions, garlic, and fennel.
Special Characteristics
Fixes nitrogen in the soil, highly nutritious, drought-tolerant once established, excellent source of plant-based protein.