Pinto beans are harvested and dried in the fall.
Pinto beans belong to the bush or snap bean family and produce slender pods filled with beans on a 1 1/2- to 2-foot plant. These beans are prized as dried beans and are often used as refried beans or a substitute for kidney beans in chili. Planted in full sun for six to eight hours a day, pinto beans thrive with regular watering and consistent weeding, producing an abundant crop ready to harvest in the fall.
Instructions
1. Soak dried pinto beans in lukewarm water for 12 to 24 hours. This causes the bean to absorb moisture and swell to twice its original size. Allow enough room in the bowl for the beans to swell.
2. Fold a section of paper towels in half to create a rectangle. Fold again to make a square. Commercial brown paper towels work best, but any heavyweight paper towel will do. If using thin generic towels, start with a double layer.
3. Dip the towel in a bowl of water to saturate it. Squeeze the towel lightly to remove excess water.
4. Lay the folded paper towel on a protected work surface. Open the folded towel like a book.
5. Place soaked pinto beans on the right hand portion of your "unfolded" paper towel. Space seeds 1 to 2 inches apart to allow room for shoots when the bean germinates.
6. Fold the paper towel over the top of the pinto beans. Smooth the towel with your hands and press lightly to maintain contact with the seeds.
7. Place the folded paper towel and bean seeds inside a plastic food storage bag. Seal the bag lightly leaving one end open slightly to allow for air circulation and prevent excessive moisture buildup.
8. Set the towel in a warm location in indirect sunlight. Placing the seeds in direct sunlight causes overheating and damages the seeds.
9. Check the pinto bean seeds daily for germination. Moisten the paper towel if it dries, keeping it evenly moist, but not soggy until sprouts appear in three to seven days.
10. Plant the germinated bean seeds in seed starter, potting soil or in the garden when the soil has warmed to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and all danger of frost has passed in your area.
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