Beta vulgaris 'Boldor' F1 is a Hardy Annual golden beetroot — an F1 hybrid variety bred by Bejo Seeds specifically to address the germination, uniformity, and vigour weaknesses that had historically limited golden beetroot varieties compared to their red counterparts. The F1 designation means it is the first-generation cross of two parent lines, producing seeds of exceptional genetic uniformity that express consistent hybrid vigour, root shape, colour, and size across every plant.

Why F1 Makes a Difference for Golden Beetroot: Open-pollinated golden beetroot varieties are appealing in concept but frequently disappointing in practice — germination rates are often lower than red varieties, root shape can be irregular, and colour intensity variable. 'Boldor' F1 eliminates all of these weaknesses through hybrid breeding, producing germination rates, root uniformity, and colour consistency that match the best red F1 varieties. For the kitchen gardener who has been disappointed by golden beetroot before, 'Boldor' is the variety that changes the experience entirely.

The No-Bleed Advantage: Red beetroot bleeds its intense pigment — betalain — onto everything it touches: hands, chopping boards, salad ingredients, other vegetables in a roasting tin. Golden beetroot contains a different, less intense pigment that does not bleed in the same way, meaning 'Boldor' can be prepared, cooked, and served without staining anything around it. This makes it uniquely practical for use alongside pale ingredients — goat's cheese, white beans, cream — that red beetroot would instantly colour. The two varieties together, red and gold, make one of the most visually spectacular salad plates in any kitchen garden repertoire.

'Boldor' alongside 'Boltardy' and 'Chioggia': The Bishy Barnabee's beetroot range now covers three visually and culinarily distinct varieties. 'Boltardy' is the classic, reliable, deep red heritage variety — bolt-resistant, sweet, all-purpose. 'Chioggia' is the candy-striped Italian heirloom with alternating pink and white rings — spectacular raw and visually unique. 'Boldor' is the golden F1 — the most culinarily versatile, the least intimidating in the kitchen, and the most dramatically beautiful when roasted to a caramelised, honeyed gold. Growing all three provides a complete beetroot harvest of extraordinary visual and flavour diversity.

'Boldor' is grown in the same way as red beetroot, with the same direct sowing approach and the same preference for open, well-drained soil — but with notably better germination reliability than open-pollinated golden varieties.

How to Sow:
Sow direct outdoors from April to July — beetroot dislikes root disturbance and is best sown where it is to grow rather than transplanted. Sow seeds approximately 2cm deep in rows 30cm apart, spacing seeds 7–10cm within the row, or sow more thickly and thin to this spacing once seedlings are established. Each beetroot seed is actually a cluster of two or three seeds fused together — multiple seedlings will emerge from each sowing point and the weakest should be thinned to leave one per station. Maintain soil moisture during germination, which typically occurs within 10–14 days in warm soil.

Thinning:
Thin seedlings to 10cm apart for standard-sized roots, or 7cm for smaller, more tender roots harvested young. The thinnings are edible — small beetroot leaves are excellent in salads, with a mild, sweet flavour. Do not delay thinning, as overcrowded plants produce small, poorly formed roots.

Ongoing Care:
Keep the bed weed-free, particularly in the early stages when small beetroot seedlings can be easily overwhelmed. Water consistently during dry spells — irregular watering causes the concentric rings (zoning) visible when the root is cut, though this is purely aesthetic and does not affect flavour. 'Boldor' does not require feeding in reasonably fertile soil — avoid freshly manured ground, which encourages leafy growth at the expense of root development.

Successional Sowing:
Sow in batches every three to four weeks from April to July for a continuous harvest rather than a single large glut. Each batch will be ready approximately 55–70 days from sowing depending on the season. A late July sowing will produce roots ready to harvest in September and October — 'Boldor' stores well and late-sown roots can be left in the ground until needed through autumn.

Harvesting:
Harvest when roots reach golf-ball to tennis-ball size — approximately 5–8cm in diameter — for the best combination of tenderness and flavour. Roots left to grow larger can become woody at the centre. Twist the tops off rather than cutting them to prevent the root from bleeding during cooking. 'Boldor' stores well in a cool, dark place or in the ground under a mulch of straw through early winter.

Beetroot is a sociable and unfussy vegetable in the kitchen garden — these companions from the range work particularly well alongside 'Boldor', supporting its growth and making the most of the space around it:

• 🌼 Calendula 'Art Shades Mixed': The Pest Deterrent. Calendula is one of the most broadly useful companion plants in the kitchen garden — its sticky stems trap aphids and whitefly, its scent confuses and deters a range of pest insects including leaf miners that occasionally affect beetroot foliage, and its open flowers attract the hoverflies and parasitic wasps that keep pest populations in check throughout the season. The warm amber and apricot tones of Art Shades Mixed alongside the golden roots and bright green-gold-veined tops of 'Boldor' creates a planting of considerable warmth and visual coherence, and the combination of edible root and edible flower in the same bed is entirely in keeping with the productive-and-beautiful philosophy of the cottage kitchen garden.
• 🌟 Borage: The Pollinator and Soil Partner. Borage is a classical companion for root vegetables — its deep taproots draw up minerals from lower soil horizons and make them available in the topsoil as the plant breaks down, improving fertility for the shallow-rooted crops growing around it. As a powerful pollinator attractor it also increases the general density of beneficial insects in the kitchen garden, creating a more balanced ecosystem that reduces the likelihood of significant pest outbreaks. The electric blue of Borage flowers alongside the golden tops of 'Boldor' makes for one of the most visually striking and most culinarily productive pairings in the summer kitchen garden.
• 🌿 Basil Classic Italian: The Aromatic Neighbour. Basil's volatile aromatic oils have a deterrent effect on aphids, thrips, and other soft-bodied pest insects, and its bushy low habit works well alongside the upright foliage of beetroot without competing for light. More practically, growing basil alongside 'Boldor' means that the two ingredients for the finest roasted golden beetroot salad — beetroot and fresh basil — are always harvested together from the same patch. A warm salad of roasted Boldor beetroot, torn basil, crumbled goat's cheese, and a little balsamic is one of the simplest and most satisfying things the summer kitchen garden produces.
• 🔴 Beetroot 'Boltardy': The Complete Beetroot Pairing. Growing 'Boldor' F1 alongside 'Boltardy' in the same bed is the simplest and most rewarding way to make the most of both — the deep, glossy red roots and the brilliant golden roots harvested together, roasted side by side until caramelised, and served together on the same plate in a combination of colour and flavour that is one of the great vegetable presentations of the British kitchen garden. Both varieties share the same growing requirements and the same harvest window, making them completely natural bedfellows, and the visual contrast between the two colours in the garden — red roots and golden roots emerging from the same soil — is as beautiful as the contrast on the plate.

Sow direct outdoors from April in successive batches every three to four weeks — each sowing produces golden roots ready to harvest in 55–70 days, giving a continuous supply of brilliant yellow beetroot from June right through to October.