Pinto Bean Frank J. Dainello, Extension Horticulturist Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University
VARIETIES Pinray, Cinnabar, Bill Z, Fiesta, Othello, U. I. 126 Pinata III
SOIL PREFERENCE Deep, well drained, fertile sandy loam. Avoid clay loams unless well drained.
OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS Day temperatures 80 - 90oF and night temperature above 65oF, use windbreaks.
ESTABLISHMENT METHOD Direct seeded Optimum time= 4 - 6 wks after last average frost date or seed zone soil temperatures above 60oF. Seeding rate lbs/A= 60 - 80 lbs (70,000 - 90,000 plts/A). Seeding depth= Sandy loams, 2 - 2.5"; loamy sands, 2.5 - 3"; clay loams, 1 - 1.5". Seed/oz= 50 -100 Seedling spacing= 2 rows/40-inch wide bed: 3 - 5 plts/row ft.
FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION Rates presented as actual lbs/A N2, P2O5, and K2O base actual application rates on soil test results. Generalized rate lbs/A: 70-80-100 depending on plant population. Soils testing high to very high in phosphorus and potassium do not usually respond to applied P or K. Addition of phophorous to soils high in this element can cause iron and zinc deficiency. N- 60 to 80 P- 80 K- 100
* Note- In areas with high pH, use of supplemental iron may be needed.
WATER/IRRIGATION 15 to 20". Adapted to furrow or sprinkler irrigation. Use of tensiometer 12" depth to monitor available water and schedule irrigations are suggested. Irrigate at 30 centibar.
PEST MANAGEMENT Major Diseases Control Bean rust Bravo, Endura, Headline Bacterial blight fixed copper Fusarium root rot Long rotations (5 years) Nematode K-Pam, Telone II, Temik Major Insects Control Seedcorn maggot Temik Thrip acephate, Lannate Beet armyworm and cutworm acephate, Asana, Lannate, Sevin Mexican bean beetle Asana, Fury/Mustang Aphid endosulfan Mite Capture, Comite, Kelthane Weeds Control Preplant incorporated Eptam, Pursuit, Treflan, Sonalan Preemergence Dacthal, Dual Magnum, Lasso, Sandea Postemergence Assure II, Basagran, Poast, Outlook, Select Harvest Aid Chemicals: Defol-6, Gramoxone Extra; These chemicals are used to dessicate vines and facilitate harvest
* NOTE--The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
HARVEST Mechanical Days after planting= 75 to 95. Normal method= Direct combine or knife undercut and combine. Containers= Usually sold fob in 50-lb. bags. Grades= Processors require <5% cracks and check-coat. Dry pack tolerates higher percent defects but downgrades quality and price. Packaging/Handling= Sold in consumer carton packs and loose measure by weight in supermarkets. Anticipated yield lbs/A= 1,000 to 2,500
TRANSIT CONDITIONS Dry, 12 to 13% moisture
COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS For more detailed discussion consult Texas Pinto Bean Guide (B-5012), and Colorado Dry Bean Production and IPM (Bulletin 548A), and Recognition and Management of Dry Bean Production Problems (North Central Regional Extension Publication 198) available from Colorado State University Bulletin Room, 171 Aylesworth Hall-SW. Fort Collins, CO 80523. Pinto beans are less tolerant of heat, wind, and drought than southern peas (cowpeas). Use of windbreaks is suggested. Use of bush type varieties recommended to help reduce losses from soilborne diseases. Use of tensiometer 12" depth to monitor available water and schedule irrigations is suggested. Irrigate at 30 centibar stress threshold (tensiometers work best in light, sandy loam soils, may give false readings in heavier soils). Undercutting as harvest maturity approaches is suggested in the southern part of the state due to tendency to receive untimely rainfall which can initiate regrowth. Uniform moisture distribution is required to reduce the incidence of hard seedcoat factor (condition causing excessive re-hydration time during).
Texas Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series Revised November, 2003 http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/pintobean.html Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger