Pepper 'Mariachi'
2006 AAS Vegetable Award Winner

'Mariachi' is named after the Mexican regional musical band that became popular in Jalisco, Mexico in the mid-1800's. Both the band and the pepper are festive and colorful, reminding us to enjoy our outdoor living spaces and gardens. 'Mariachi' is a beautiful plant, deserving a sunny location in an annual or perennial flower bed. 'Mariachi' sets fruits and produces an abundant crop of high quality, mild chile peppers. The chile peppers are pendant, meaning they will hang below the stem. It is a fleshy pepper that ripens from creamy white to rose, then red. Some people may wait for the mature red pepper, but because its flavor is delicate and complex, having fruity undertones reminiscent of melons, the gardeners will harvest them at the creamy white stage. 'Mariachi' peppers are moderately pungent, with Scoville readings in the 500 to 600 range when grown under non-stressful conditions. Add stress, such as extremely hot weather or overly dry soil, and Scoville readings may rocket.

'Mariachi' chiles can be used in salsas or sauces and are especially flavorful when roasted whole on the grill or under the broiler. 'Mariachi' peppers can be used in many dishes, either raw or cooked, but the reason to grow vegetables is the exceptional taste and highest nutritional value - fresh from your garden.

AAS WINNER DATA

Genus species: Capsicum annuum
Common name: Pepper
Fruit size: About 4 inches long by 2 inches wide, 1.5 ounces
Color: Creamy white, ripening to rosy red, then red
Plant type: Upright bush
Width: 20 inches
Garden spacing: 20-24 inches
Unique qualities: Larger fruit than comparison, higher yield, better color
Disease tolerances: TMV strain Po (tobamovirus)
Length of time from transplanting to harvest: About 66 days
Closest comparison(s) on market: 'Santa Fe Grande,' 'White Fire,' 'Healthy'