Effects of Gibberellic Acid and Deflowering Upon Runner and Inflorescence Development in an Everbearing Strawberry1

Abstract Sprays of gibberellic acid (GA) were applied to new and 1-year-old plantings of the everbearing strawberry variety ‘Geneva’ during June, July and August in attempts to increase the production of runner plants and/or reduce the need for manual deflowering. Single applications of GA in June or double applications in June and July inhibited flowering, promoted runner development, and increased the yields of marketable runner plants the following year. Fifty ppm GA was as effective as higher concentrations. Deflowering had little effect upon runner initiation, but promoted flowering and increased the yields of runner plants. Maximum yields of runner plants resulted from combining GA sprays with deflowering.