THE

flurry of 200mph ‘hypercars’ on show at Geneva — including the awesome £2m all-electric Pininfarina Battista — is in sharp contrast to the tack taken by Sweden’s Volvo which announced that from next year it will limit the top speed of all its fleet to 112mph as part of its target to eliminate deaths and serious injuries in its cars.

This is a good week to start if you want to grow half-hardy annuals from seed. Favourites are zinnias, pictured, tagetes, nicotianas and bedding asters, but there are dozens more. For small seeds in limited quantities, a clean 7cm pot is fine. Bigger seeds such as tagetes are better sown in half-trays.

For sowing this early, you’ll need a greenhouse, conservatory or a well- lit windowsill. Vigorous half-hardies such as tagetes can also be sown directly outdoors, but not till mid-April.

Good hygiene is essential for preventing damping off — a soil-borne fungal disease. Use fresh, sterile potting compost and scrupulously clean pots or containers. Water only with clean tap-water at ambient temperatures.

Read the instructions on each seed packet — they can vary with different plant types. With the greatest care, prick your seedlings out as soon as they are large enough to handle.

hold each by its leaves, never touching the seed stem. Use a stick or pencil to make the planting hole and gently firm each seedling into place.

As they develop, the young plants need full light and regular watering. Feed when necessary. They will not be safe to move outdoors until the risk of frost has passed.

if small batches of seedlings keel over, the likely cause is damping off. Prick out any healthy seedlings that are not close to infected ones and transfer those to cell trays for growing on.