This research evaluated the potential of gibberellins (GA), and Prohexadione-Ca (PCa) to affect sweet cherry (Prunus avium) fruit size and quality. The results demonstrate the ability of ostensibly counter-acting plant growth regulators to significantly improve sweet cherry cv 'Bing' fruit size, fruit quality and postharvest characteristics compared to the current commercial application of GA 3 alone. In 2008, we found that the combination of GA 3 or GA 4/7 (30 mg l -1 ) with PCa (150 mg l -1 ) applied to entire 3-year-old limbs 30 days after anthesis increased fruit size and improved fruit quality in 'Bing'. In 2009, we investigated the effect of application timing in larger-scale field trials, comparing treatments made at 30 or 37 days after anthesis, on fruit quality, storability and sensory attributes after storage. Treatment with PCa ? GA 3 or PCa ? GA 4/7 delayed fruit maturity by about 7 days compared to the untreated control. Both the first and second applications of PCa ? GA 4/7 resulted in 35-40% fruit being C10 g, compared with only 20% in the control. PCa ? GA 3 treatment also showed greater potential for improving fruit storability by maintaining fruit firmness, sweetness, and consumer appeal than PCa ? GA 4/7 . PCa alone or in combination with GAs inhibited current shoot growth and delayed fruit coloring development. After 30 days of 4°C storage, fewer than 5% fruit from untreated trees were rated as healthy and marketable, compared to 50 and 30% fruit from PCa ? GA 3 treatment applied at 30 or 37 days after anthesis, respectively. In conclusion, preharvest foliar application of PCa ? GA 3 at the onset of Stage II of fruit development shows potential to affect canopy source-sink relations and improved quality and shelf life of 'Bing' sweet cherries.