I’m puzzled how fast some plants grow, vegetables in particular. For what I’ve observed, rucola (Eruca sativa) is the champion - look upon this spring observation.

First, the conditions: Two days after a spring rain, rucola’s seeds were covered with 6 to 8 mm of fine garden soil. I’ve sowed dense than usual because the seeds were of 2011 stock. The weather was rather favorable: sunny spring days, night temperatures not below 14⁰C, daily up to 21⁰C.

Then, here is the timetable:

Apr 3, late afternoon (around 6 PM): seeds placed into the soil, previously worked out.

Apr 4. late afternoon (i.e., after about 24 hr): the soil layer above the seeds slightly raised, like a very low ridge.

Apr 5, around noon (after about 42 hr): the ridge is broken (cracked) above the seeds.

Apr 6, at 8 AM (after about 62 hr): the seedlings appeared, see the photo on the right.