How to Plant Pinto Beans in Texas

The pinto bean, the most common dry bean grown commercially in the U.S., is the main ingredient in the dish refried beans. Pinto bean crops thrive in Texas as long as the preplanting requirements are met. The condition of the soil is important, because too much or not enough nitrogen or phosphorous can effect yield, according to horticulturists with Texas A&M University. The ideal time to plant pinto beans in Texas is when soil temperatures remain above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important to get seeds into the ground as early as possible, because pinto bean plants will not set pods when the temperature rises above 93 F.

Preemergent herbicide
Tiller
Compost, or well-rotted manure
Fertilizer
Fungicide powder

Instructions

- 1
  Remove all weeds from the pinto bean bed. If there are few weeds, hand-pulling them will suffice. For large infestations, till the area, and apply a preemergent herbicide according to label instructions. Horticulturists at Texas A&M University suggest that the application of the preemergent herbicide is a critical step since few post-emergent herbicides exist for use on pinto beans.
- 2
  Till the soil to a depth of 10 inches. Spread a 4-inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure on the soil, and mix it into the top 8 inches of soil. Water the area until the soil is saturated, and allow it to sit for three to five weeks.
- 3
  Mail a soil sample to the Texas A&M University Extension office in your county. The address of the testing office, and instructions as to how to gather the samples are on the website, listed in the resource section. The results of the soil analysis will offer suggestions on how much phosphorous and nitrogen fertilizer to add to the soil.
- 4
  Add the required fertilizer to the soil, and mix it to a depth of 8 inches. Water the soil to a depth of 18 inches, and allow it to drain before planting.
- 5
  Pour fungicide into a bag, and drop in the seeds. Close the bag, and shake it gently to coat the seeds with the powder.
- 6
  Dig a trench 2 to 3 inches deep. Planting depth depends on the type of soil you have. In areas of Texas with sandy soil, plant the seed deeper. The length of the trench depends on how much room you have. Plant the pinto bean seeds so there will be 3 to 4 plants per foot of row length. Space the rows 20 to 30 inches apart.
- 7
  Water the pinto bean bed two to three weeks after planting. Keep an eye on the plants. They should be growing vigorously. If not, and the weather is dry, water sooner. Water again seven to 10 days after the second irrigation. Do not water later than 2:00 p.m. to allow the foliage to dry before night.

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