In Spanish, the word ?pinto? means painted and these beans are appropriately named because their outer skin is a spotted, swirling, red-dotted color. The beans inside have a rich creamy texture perfect for soups and stews on those upcoming cold winter nights. Just one cup of pinto beans contains 41 grams of protein! Pintos need long, warm summers with full sun exposure of at least 6 hours per day. Beans are a popular plant for home gardeners because they aren't difficult to grow and they produce large harvests. It will take about 90-150 days (depending on the weather) to harvest. Pintos can be harvested when they are still green and immature, but most people choose to leave them on the vine until they dry out. Pinto beans do well as companion plants with cucumbers, celery, and strawberries. Although they taste great when combined, avoid companion plantings alongside onion, garlic, and fennel.