@darius I'm sure you could get similar results by growing from seed if you had a good growlight and a germination/heating mat. (Other useful things: A gentle fan on a timer to keep the seedlings from getting leggy, and possibly something to keep the humidity a little elevated.)

You might also try getting a mix of varieties and growing them all together and saving seed, letting them cross. Do some selection and pretty soon you'll have a grex that's adapted to your growing practices and local climate. :-)