So here's the question: can you expect rooted cuttings of determinate tomatoes to produce tomatoes? From what I understand, correct me if I'm wrong, the majority of the tomatoes on a determinate variety ripen in a short window of time and then the plant is finished/dies. This is what I observed last year on my determinate vines. So if you root a cutting from a determinate plant that is already producing ripe tomatoes, will it act like a clone of its parent and think it's already done its tomato thing and die. Or will it start over and bloom and produce? For some reason, I'm thinking it is not going to work for me and I need to start some seeds...any thoughts?

Please forgive me if I'm having a blonde moment here :)

it can work if the timing and variety are right.

If the plant is still producing suckers and one catches them young enough, it may work. This is assuming the flower buds haven't formed in the suckers growing point and the lack of roots will be temporarily effecting hormone production/signalling involved in flower bud initiation.

However, if the plant's side shoots are far enough along and received the signals to terminate the growing points in flowers, then cuttings probably won't do much.

Semi-determinate plants are better candidates for cuttings but again it is a matter of when one takes a cutting off the plant.

Your plants are already producing ripe fruit? Then it is too late. So yes, you need to start some seeds.

As discussed in more detail in the other recent discussion abayomi mentioned above, the growing tips on determinate plants are terminal tips.

Dave