Clover mites are probably the most harmless mite, I am not sure you should even worry about them. Two separate nurseries told me that clover mites will eat spider mite eggs, and something has been! Clover mites were all over my garden during late spring and I did not notice any damage to the plants, they were mostly on the tops of leaves scurrying around or on the terracotta pots. They are very fast moving and I have not noticed them eating plants yet.

As for the marigolds, I did the same experiment this spring and planted marigolds throughout my garden. At this point they are hosting more of the harmful insects than anything else. I only keep them to attract pollinating insects and give the white flies something to eat besides my tomatoes.

Good to know Phildeez. Thanks for the info.

I do love the way that the marigolds look in the garden. They really add a lot to the aesthetics. I guess I'm kind of persnickity about bugs on my plants, but I've never had to deal with mites yet and I must admit that it freaked me out.

More than anything, I just wanted to throw it out there that marigolds do not in fact repel pests. I guess I'm too paraniod now to leave them so close to my tomatoes, but I might re-plant them elsewhere for aesthetics.

I love love love marigolds, and they do repel many pests, but they ATTRACT mites, not repel them. A strong spray of water now and then should keep them in check.

I beautified my garden one year by planting zinnias and marigolds next to the tomato patch- one year only!! I ended up having to pick a dozen horn worms off the tomatoes THREE times a day!
Never again!! Mercy!

Marigolds DO attract mites. Plenty of research on the net supporting this. My personal experience confirms it.

As for "attracting" spider mites? I tend to believe they come in with the plants from the nursery (if you didn't plant them from seed). I live in zone 5 and I think the winters will kill them off, so I don't worry that they'll attract/spread them to the garden plants. I just know that last year was the first time I have not planted marigolds around the garden and the cuke beetles were at plague levels... I did kill dozens per day (by hand) until I saw fewer and fewer but I will be planting marigolds this year. My tomatoes are probably my most trouble free veg in the garden, at least pest-wise. Cukes and squash seem to be the most targeted plants.

It is possible that marigold might repel certain pests. A few year ago I planted few of them in my garden. Some pests ate them. hehe

Heidi Palider: I just know that last year was the first time I have not planted marigolds around the garden and the cuke beetles were at plague levels...

It's hard to draw any conclusions unless you have many years of relatively controlled data.

Phildeez... it sounds like what you had were not spider mites... Mites do not scurry around the plant in a fast motion. And are usually found on the bottom of leaves or in the crotches of leaves and stems.