Sweetpeas

Beverly Priddle

Why do my sweetpeas, planted in pots, start to die off at the base, once they begin flowering?

Pete.8

Are they actually dying or is that that the lower leaves have gone yellow and growth and flowers have slowed down?
If that's what you have, I don't think you're alone - me too and some other threads recently have reported similar.
I can only guess it's the weather - I'm growing them the same way I do every year and this year after a good first flush of flowers they've gone to sleep. But, I have noticed some fresh new growth and buds over the last few days.
Other than that, I for one don't know..

Fairygirl

It's quite common Beverly so don't worry too much. The plants run out of steam mid season as they take up lots of water and nutrients early on, and they'll lose some lower leaves in the process.  I have one or two duff leaves and mine are only starting to flower properly - bit later up here. They also get a bit of leaf miner damage, but you can pick off any dead, damaged leaves - it doesn't affect the flowering.They need a good bit of feeding in pots anyway - and regular deadheading to keep new buds and flowers coming. 

If you have too many plants in the pot, that can  be harder to keep the plants healthy. 

Beverly Priddle

Thank you, Fairygirl!