Moisture

• Placing the pinto bean on a cotton ball and add water. Depending on the temperature, the bean will sprout. Sealing the bean with the wet cotton ball in a zipped lock bag keeps the bean wet so it will germinate faster since the outer coating gets soaked.
  
  

Temperature

• Pinto beans are a warm season vegetable and will germinate quickly under warm, but not hot conditions. Place soaked cotton balls and beans in a zip locked bags. Put one in a warm place such as on top of the refrigerator and one in a cold place such as inside the refrigerator. The warm bean sprouts first.
  
  

Light

• Light doesn't affect the germination of the pinto bean. It will sprout in bright light or darkness. When pinto beans are planted in the ground they receive no light at all. Light becomes important when the leaves emerge and the bean turns into a seedling.