How to Grow Pinto Beans in Louisiana
Pinto beans grow well in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region, because pinto beans take longer to ripen than many beans. This time frame is perfect for Louisiana's long growing season. Pinto beans can be harvested once the pods dry out completely for the dry bean, which is brown and speckled. Pinto beans also can be harvested while the pods are still green to make green beans. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Soil test kit
- Pinto beans
- Hand cultivator
- Watering can
- Organic mulch
- Organic Compost
Instructions
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Test your soil. You can purchase a soil-testing kit from an agent at your parish's Louisiana State University AgCenter Extension office. With this kit, you collect samples of soil where you would like to plant your beans and take it back to the office where you purchased it. The agency should give you some recommendations for soil amendments that you need to grow pinto beans. Pinto beans need nitrogen and will not grow easily in soil that has a pH above 8 (alkaline soil).
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Prepare your growing area by using a hand cultivator to loosen dirt and mix in organic compost. Adding organic compost is not necessary, but it can greatly boost the fertility of your garden soil, allowing plants to grow larger and produce more.
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Plant the beans in rows, in a spot where the plants will receive full sun and where the soil is well drained. Begin planting beans only once the soil has reached an average temperature of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit; this can be as early as mid-March and no later than early April, because Louisiana is in USDA zones 8 and 9, and freezes and frosts after this time are unlikely to occur. Push your finger 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches into the ground and drop a bean in the hole. Space plants 2 to 3 inches apart and space rows 24 inches apart.
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Build trellises for beans to grow on. Bean poles should be about 6 or 7 feet tall so beans do not grow out of reach. Place poles in the ground 1 or 2 feet apart. Tie twine at the top of the pole and tie it to the bottom of the next pole in the same row. This will give your beans a place to grow and help to discourage the beans from growing between rows.
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Water the area once or twice a week before the beans sprout if it has been extra dry or no rain has fallen in the week. Do not let the beans become constantly wet--this will hinder the growth and development of your plants.
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Spread organic mulch after your plants have started sprouting. Louisiana State University AgCenter advises adding mulch to stifle to growth of weeds and keep bean plants from rotting on the ground. Some varieties will take 90 days or more to mature.
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Harvest your beans while they are young and green to use as fresh green beans or allow the plant to dry out to get dried pinto beans. For dried beans. the pod should be brown and the bush should be yellow.
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Tips & Warnings
You can purchase pinto beans that come in seed packets in the gardening department of the store or you can purchase a regular bag of pinto beans for cooking.
If you purchase a seed packet of pinto beans, be sure to check to germination dates.
Avoid planting beans in any areas that are swampy or marshy, typical in Louisiana's southern coastal region.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit dried pinto beans image by Carpenter from Fotolia.com
