I waited for over a month and they finally began to sprout!

[CoyoteMagic]

I'm sure you can. They don't take long to grow once they are started.

 

[wolftracks]

I'm so jealous!
I've tried 2 yrs in a row and nothing.

 

[NanaKat]

I use an emeryboard to file off an edge of the seed.
Then soak them in buttermilk overnight
Then I pot them up like Coyote does in a pot on top of the fridge. I put two or three seeds per pot and then keep the best two.

Like squash, they don't like their roots disturbed so I carefully remove them from the pot to transplant directly into the garden,

Since it's avining plant, you get nicer sponges if you let them grow up a trellis or fence.