After my disastrous last potato planting experience, I have decided to try, try again. I am planting the potatoes in bags (not enough space for in-ground) & hope this go-round goes better. My last batch of Yukons didn't produce more than 9 silver dollar sized balls, even though the plants were always healthy, sturdy & bright green. I know that a lot of people don't think potatoes should be planted in fall/winter, but here in CA we only see like one day of frost & that is in late January, so I think I can prepare for it. I also believe the ridiculous heat wave we had (109 some days) didn't help the growth of the potatoes, either during the summer.

I have done a lot of research this time around & hope to verify that what I have done thus far sounds right to some of the more experienced potato farmers out there.

First off, I mixed a small amount of Sulpomag fertilizer (8-16-16) with my regular soil, which is loose, wonderful & not clay. (I had not fertilized before because the seed potatoes I received from WoodPrairie did not recommend fertilizing). I created a skin on the seed potatoes by cutting the larger pieces in sections & laid them out overnight, cut side exposed. When I planted, I placed the potatoes cut side down into the fertilized soil & covered with more soil. I know to wait till I see the plants & cover in tiers as the plant grows. My questions, though, are as follows:

~After hilling over the plant twice, should I start to incorporate straw into the bag as well? I know a lot of potato farmers prefer to straw-hill over the plant when growing in-ground, but with bags I'm not sure if the same method will work.

~Should I keep mixing Sulpomag into the soil each time I hill, or is the first batch the seed potatoes come in contact with the most important?

~What type of watering do potatoes need? Some sites say to soak once a week (I live in So. Cal where temps lately are in the mid-high 90's), and other sites say to water sparingly, only wetting the top layer of soil.

Thank you for any advice/information you can give me. I so want to get this down, but feel like I'm struggling. Thanks, all!