I don't know about how to distinguish between the two, but I do know that the two have more or less the same needs. You say the leaf tastes like a broccoli leaf. In my experience, all crucifer leaves taste like cabbage. I don't think that taking a bite will help. In any case, if your plants have the same colour and the same size, then they are most likely both the same plant. I seriously don't think you can tell the two apart with young plants. Both broccoli and brussels sprouts have the same plant structure, and although I have never grown brussels sprouts, I hear it also has a small broccoli flower at the top. You may never find out how to differentiate them, but in case you only need to know because you would like to handle your plants correctly, rest assured that both require about the same conditions. They are also of comparable size (well, the sprouts may be taller) and therefore need about the same spacing as well.

Frank, Last year I didn't get any brussel sprouts either. I think it was a combo of a very rainy summer, and I planted pole beans and had them growing ten feet tall, which cut off the morning sun. I had brussel sprouts two other years. I had a purple variety (not sure which) that was really flavorful. But the sprouts were small. And I had the traditional green ones too. I'm not home or I'd tell you what I put in this year. It is some kind of heirloom Christmas variety. We can definitely grow them here. In fact I have harvested them as late as early December. I bring them in before deep snow covers them. I always start them indoors early. This year I didn't get them out until late May / June 1. The ones that I planted are doing well this year. Today I started three more seedlings indoors as I was aware of the fact you might be able to start them later; not sure how that works, but I'll find out. Spring came so late.

Kristy, There's always a 'second chance' for broc and b.s. in the fall garden. Remember, every learning experience is good, and NOTHING tastes as good as fresh produce grown by you in your garden in the most healthy and most natural way possible. There's not a grocery store brussel sprout in Oklahoma that can compare to the flavor of those straight from your garden. One of the hardest things about gardening in Oklahoma is raising cool-season crops and it is primarily because our fall and spring cool-seasons are relatively short and often interrupted by (a) late freezes (in spring) or early freezes (in fall) with VERY cold nights--colder than cool season crops like, (b) an occasional hot spell too early in spring or extra late in fall that messes with the biennials by sending them mixed signals, (c) tornadoes, late snow or sleet in spring or the same stuff too early in the fall, dust storms, wind storms, wildfire,etc. It can be VERY hard to get the timing of cool-season crops to work here and even very experienced gardeners get frustrated with weather that refuses to meet the needs of their cool-season crops. So, hang in there, and give brussels sprouts and broccoli another chance somewhere down the road so you can enjoy them straight from the gardening. One thing about gardening....when it doesn't work out "this time", then.....there's always next year. Dawn

Stephynb, In all reality, as blocks come open, you'll do like everyone else... you'll pick up your seed packets and see what "fits" in that spot best. Will carrots or radishes grow quickly, or do you need a square of beans to make up for the ones that aren't producing yet? Oh, or would lettuce be better there because the tomatoes are getting big and the lettuce likes the shade better than the beans like it. You can plan your crop rotation and everything else to your heart's content, but your garden will tell you when it's ready for something else...and that something else may not fit the "plan" you have drawn. I rotate the heavy hitters from year to year. I planted my maters in a different bed this year than last year. I used what I learned last year about the sun patterns on my beds to lay out this year's garden.