Growth Characteristics of Pinto Beans

Seed Germination

• Pinto beans should be planted approximately four to six weeks after the last frost date in your region, recommends Texas A&M University Extension. Alternatively, wait until the soil temperature is 60 degrees F or higher. Colder temperatures lead to poor germination rates and rotting of the seed, warns Purdue University Extension.

  When planting pinto beans, bury them approximately 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface and space them apart by two to three inches. Water the buried seeds twice a day. The pinto beans will typically germinate within seven to 10 days.

Color

• The pinto bean plant develops a medium-green hue, although specific color variations may change depending on the level of sunlight and other environmental factors.

Height

• Most varieties and strains of the pinto bean plant grow approximately 2 feet tall, reports the Thomas Jefferson Agricultural institute. This makes pinto beans more of a tall bush than a true vine, like some varieties of string beans. However, they may still require a trellis or support to keep the plant's tendrils upright.

Growth Rate

• Most varieties of pinto beans are ready for harvest within 75 to 95 days after you first planted the seeds. Compared to other bean plants, like snap beans, this means pinto beans take relatively longer to mature than other bean plants. Because pinto beans are harvested when they're dry, Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests plucking them off the plant only after the pods are brown and dry.

  The plants' slow growth rate also makes them more susceptible to weed invasions. In a 2004 research study published in the "Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology," researchers noted that spacing the plants further apart and allowing weeds to grow up between them "significantly reduced" the harvest of bean pods from each plant.