How to Recognize Vegetable Leaves

Note the shape of the leaves. The leaves of the brassica family of plants, which include cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower, are oval in shape. The leaves of the cucurbitaceae family, such as the cucumber, squashes and melons, have a three-lobed shape that appears almost heart-shaped in some cases.

Note the color of the leaves. Some vegetable leaves are darker, deeper greens while others are light and have a tinge of yellow. A broccoli leaf, for example, has a darker green color that looks almost as if it has a coating of dust on top, whereas a cucumber leaf is green with a yellowish hue in the background in some varieties.

Check the edges of the leaves. Some leaf edges are smooth and rounded, while others are serrated or come to a point at the end. Take a note of these features and cross-check them with other characteristics for a positive identification.

Look at pictures of different vegetable plants, or go to a garden center and match the different vegetable leaves with their labels.