BEANS IN COLORADO 
By ALVIN KEZER 
SUMMARY 
Beans are becoming an increasingly important crop in Colorado. 
They are well adapted for both dry farming and irrigated condi¬ 
tions. 
The “Plains” section is almost entirely adapted for the growing 
of beans. They do well also in mountain valleys at altitudes not to 
exceeded 7,000 feet. In many localities 6,000 feet is too high for 
their proper growth because of the shortness of the season and the 
tendency of early and late frosts. 
Beans are an excellent cash crop, with a well established market 
and market facilities. 
In Colorado the chief market bean is the pinto. Navies, teparies 
and the Red Mexican or Red Miner are grown to some extent. A white 
Mexican bean, closely related to the pinto is gaining popularity in cer¬ 
tain sections. 
Many beans are being grown under contracts with seed houses. 
These beans represent a number of different varieties produced for 
seed, because of peculiar advantages for clean seeed which the semi- 
arid climate possesses. The chief danger of seed bean contracts is 
injury to standard markets by growers attempting to throw rejected 
seed onto the standard markets. 
Beans are a hot weather crop, consequently, they should not 
be planted until frost danger is past. In most localities this will be ap¬ 
proximately June 1 st. 
Planting should be shallow. Planting may be done preferably 
with the regular bean planters. Corn planters with bean plates may be 
used. The ordinary grain drill, stopping the proper number of holes, 
is feasible where necessity requires. 
Beans are a shallow rooted crop. Consequently, the first cultiva¬ 
tion should be the deeper. Later cultivation should be as shallow as the 
first cultivation or even shallower. Cultivation should not be over 3 
inches. 
