I suspect your bitter leaf crop had more to do with approaching a bolt than anything else. That makes both lettuce and spinach bitter. When the weather starts to warm up, crops like lettuce often do that and are best suspended until fall when it the heat subsides somewhat.

No, to the best of my knowledge nobody has ever been poisoned by inter-planting tagetes species in their gardens. However, I am a bit skeptical about it's effectiveness, other than as a rotation crop for root nematode control. The practise might help, but doesn't hurt anything and make a garden a cheerful place to be.

Certain oils of marigold does cause skin sensitivity in a small group of people, however.

Thank you so much- I think you are right-- we had extreme heat in the north east and i planted them too late i think.

i read somewhere they can make beans bitter so i think i will move them away from the beans to be safe.

thanks again for answering!

Kelley :)

I plant them with my beans because I read that they're supposed to deter the mexican bean beetle - don't know if it works, but it makes me feel better, and they look pretty...
Judith

I used to plant them as a pest insect repellent, but the past few years they've been a slug magnet. I've been planting garlic and other alliums and wormwood instead; they also seem to help keep bugs away. But I miss the cheerfulness of flowers.