How To Grow Pinto Beans Indoors

Last Updated on April 11, 2022 by Marco C.

If you live in an apartment or a house without a yard, you might be wondering how to grow pinto beans indoors. Luckily for you, most beans can be grown indoors and pinto beans are no different.

In today’s article, we’ll be learning how to grow pinto beans indoors, as well as why they’re healthy and useful!

How To Grow Pinto Beans Indoors

Pinto beans are arguably the most popular variation of beans and they’re definitely easy to grow indoors. The only thing you should be concerned about is space. Pinto bean plants can grow up to five feet in height, so you’re going to need a large area to plant them in.

If you don’t, then you’re going to keep bumping into your bean plant all the time.

The growing and caring part of the process is so easy, that a child could do it. All you need is a large potting container and plenty of potting mixes, both of which you can get in your local gardening store.

Plant no more than 2 beans in the soil, and you’re going to keep that soil moist all the time. The plants will germinate and intertwine as they’re growing. It’s best to prepare the beans before you plant them. Wrapping them in a moist paper towel that you’ll put in a sandwich bag kept in a dark place should be good enough to help the beans sprout.

You can take the beans out after five days and plant them in the soil.

When it comes to caring, they need plenty of sunlight, so make sure to keep them next to a window that gets plenty of light. Additionally, they need a temperature above 50 degrees and the soil needs to be completely moist all the time.

You should never let the soil dry out before watering again. Another thing that has to be mentioned is fertilization. Once your beans are already a few inches tall, you should use some fertilizer, but only cover adult plants with fertilizer, not young plants.

How To Grow Pinto Beans

Learn more about: Growing Soybeans Indoors

Harvesting Pinto Beans

When it comes to harvesting, it will usually take about 100 days for the beans to be ready for harvesting. Sometimes even more than that – up to 150 days. This depends on the conditions in your household, as well as the variety of beans.

The pods need to be at least 3 inches long when you harvest your beans, but you can also leave them on the vine to dry. Many people prefer harvesting their beans until they’ve fully dried. As they dry, pods will start turning brown.

About Pinto Beans

Phaseolus vulgaris, or the pinto bean, is a plant native to Mexico, but it’s nowadays consumed around the entire world. If you’re interested in growing your own product and your own food ingredients, pinto beans are one of the easiest plants to grow.

These beans are a common addition to Brazilian, Mexican, and Spanish cuisine.

Primarily, pinto beans consist of carbs (45 grams per cup), fiber (15 grams per cup), and protein (15 grams per portion). Their health benefits, however, don’t consist of macronutrients, but instead of iron, magnesium, and thiamine.


Read more about: Growing Green Beans From Seed Indoors

Health Benefits

You can get a fifth of your daily dose of iron from a single cup of pinto beans, which is an impressive amount. Given its great amounts of fiber, we usually get about 50% of our daily needed dose of fiber out of a cup of pinto beans.

We also have to point out that pinto beans are a food low in GI – the glycemic index. It takes a lot of time for the average body to digest these beans, so they don’t raise blood sugar and they’re actually healthy when it comes to blood regulation.

It’s a very lean food when it comes to fat, as it essentially has no fat (1 gram per cup of pinto beans).

Lastly, if you’re worried about losing weight, remember that pinto beans are a great way of managing your weight. Since they’re full of fiber and protein, they’re not only able to keep you feeling full for longer (a characteristic of fiber), but they’re also filling your body with muscle-building protein.

Possible Drawbacks

The most obvious drawback of pinto beans comes in the form of bloating. This is a common problem with other bean varieties too, as raffinose (a specific carb that’s found in beans) isn’t something that our bodies digest well. Gas is created as a byproduct when raffinose is broken down, causing the bloating and feeling gassy.

Experts suggest that you soak your beans overnight if they’re dry, as that could help with the bloating and gas.

FAQ

Can you plant pinto beans from the grocery store?

You can, but it's best to get your pinto beans from the gardening store as they usually have the best varieties. Planting and growing pinto beans can be done by essentially anyone who has enough room as they're very easy to grow.

How do you grow beans indoors?

You start by letting them start in a moist paper towel before burying them in soil, usually 2 beans in a single container. Pinto bean germination will take a while, after which they'll start intertwining and growing together. It's important to keep the soil moist and keep the plant in the sun.

How long does it take to grow beans indoors?

It can take between 90 and 150 days for a pinto bean plant to grow indoors. This depends on the variety and the quality of care you're providing. Some people harvest the beans before they're dry, but many gardeners leave them to dry before harvesting.

To End

Pinto beans are a common addition to many Mexican, Spanish, and Brazilian foods. These beans are easy to grow and you can grow them in your home without having to buy them at the store. It’s important to keep them in a well-lit room and water them regularly, as they can’t survive in dry soil. It usually takes less than 150 days for a bean plant to become ready for the harvest.

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