I've heard that mint will help keep away mice but I don't know about mosquitoes. You can grow mint in containers (yes, it is very invasive) but I don't know if it will winter over in a container. I used to grow what was called candy mint, it smelled sooo good. I think basil is supposed to be a good mosquito repellent plant.

here is a nice site i found for mint...i don't know just how hardy the plants would be in an un-heated garage, when the temps dip to freezing.
marigolds are annuals, but so plentiful in all the stores you can always find them.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/info/herbs/mint.asp

I don't know about mint being a repellent but I do know it is invasive.I had it in a front flower bed in the house I lived in before we moved here.When it spread out into the edge of the grass DH just mowed it down.It smells so good when it is mowed.LOL I'm in W TX.Don't know where you are but I don't know why you couldn't grow it in pots or why it wouldn't winter over in the pots in a garage.It comes back from the roots every year so unless the roots froze it would come out again and being protected would help also.We had some below freezing temperatures at the time I had it in my yard and it always came back out.Only regret I have is not moving some with me when we moved here.I would certainly try it in containers.Nothing to lose but a few dollars if it doesn't grow.Even if it didn't repel anything it smells good,is a pretty plant,even has little purple blooms on it.Or you can use it in a glass of iced tea or make yourself a Mint Julep or Mohito.LOL

Mint is very invasive. You should only plant it in containers, it will go everywhichaway (trust me, been there, done that).

I overwinter mine by digging a hole in the garden and burying the pots and then putting about a 4" layer of mulch on top to keep them from freezing.

I am in Z7 and our winters are relatively mild. Mint has overwintered and survived directly in the ground before (see comment about invasive), but will not overwinter in pots unless I bury them.

I have no idea if it actually repels mosquitoes or not, I grow it to add to iced tea. It's also nice to garnish desserts when I have company.

Mint is so invasive it will root out of the pot and into the soil and it is really difficult to get rid of once it starts.

I would love to plant some in hanging pots for my patio....think they'd survive that? I love the smell of mint...reminds me of vacations to my aunts farm when I was a little girl, she had it everywhere!

Not sure about the mosquito part though...sorry!

I live in NJ. Some years ago (20? 25?), I planted 6 mint plants at the back corner of my house. Now? I've got a border of mint down the entire side of my house--between the house and driveway. I don't mind, because it's a strip about 18" wide, but unless contained, mint WILL spread quickly and invasively.

I've never heard that regular mint repels mosquitoes and judging by the large amount of both mint and tiger mosquitoes we have at our house, I'd have to say I know peppermint will not do the trick. However, I believe some of the lemon herbs are supposed to work--lemon balm, lemon mint. You might try some of those. But again, they can spread quite a bit.

As to wintering? My mint is just fine in the ground all winter--it dies down in the dead of winter, but comes back every spring, heartier than ever. I don't know how that would translate to potted mint, though.

I have choc. mint (smells just like York peppermint patties) and lemon mint (smells just like lemon pledge)

growing in the ground. It has been in that area for about 5 years and pretty much stays there. Oh it tries to escape every spring but is so easy to pull where you don't want it. Just let it know who's boss. They both smell sooo good . Don't know how it would work to scare the skeeters away.

patti

Thanks! to all of you for responding. The thought of lemon mint is mmmmmmm good :-) May give a couple of the local nurseries a call to see if they still have plants in stock. If not, I'll get an ETA for next spring. Appreciate all the help!!

I just bought three new mints for my garden=pineapple, orange, and chocolate. Wish me luck keeping them alive. I also have peppermint and spearmint in my garden patch. They were gifts from my late MIL.

Lemon grass is a good skeeter repelant. When I go out to garden I just pinch off a piece and rub it on and put the leaf in my hat band.
My mother planted mint at our home after it was built 1955, she died in 1956. Dad spent 40 years trying to get rid of it. I keep it in a pot that's buried all but the top 4" and haven't had any problems with it spreading or over wintering it when we lived in NH.

Try Rosemary. My Brother puts some on the grill near the patio when they sit outside. It smells good and the mosquitos seem to stay away.

Tami

We had mint already planted near the back kitchen door when we moved into our house 17 years ago. It is very invasive. I am still pulling it out of my flower beds. It does not repel mice or mosquitoes (we have both). It survives our Maine winters quite well with no protection. I would advise against planting the mint. NancyLouise