If the soil has become dry after 1 week then I would water them. The plants fade away once they have done their job and the potatoes are mature.

Thanks. When you plant them if the soil is dry and no rain in the forecast do you water? I know wet is abd for potatoes (do not plant if there is a lot of rain in the forecast, and let cut seed potatoes "heal") so I was curious what is best as far as watering when planted.

Yes, I'd water them after planting if conditions are dry. Planting in slightly elevated/raised rows can help with drainage if excess rainy conditions occur.

If the soil is dry, water them. If the soil is moist, don't water them.

Planting half now and half later depends on what you want out of your garden. If you want to harvest half your potatoes later than the first half, plant your second half in a month. If you want to harvest all at once, plant all at once. Depending on the variety your plants will mature and start to fade off later summer into later autumn.

Yukon gold, I like to eat the fresh - so I definitely do not want them all at once. I am just worried that the summer heat will shorten the growing season.

You can try to stagger and keep the foliage plants watered in the heat of Summer. Potatoes are pretty easy, but it is hard to predict will you get more 78-82 F days in Summer or more 88-92 F days in Summer.