Water generously but do not flood the area. In a couple of weeks, the tops will emerge through the straw. As they grow, keep topping them up with the enriched straw blend, making sure the young potatoes don't get exposed to sunlight. This can turn them green and make them slightly toxic.
When the potatoes flower, they are getting close to maturity. This will take about 14 - 16 weeks. When the plants have died off and gone dry and brown, it is time to pull back the mulched straw to reveal an abundant crop of large healthy potatoes. You will find a clean crop of potatoes with no dirt on them, and very little rinsing will be required before preparation in the kitchen.
Good luck, have fun and may your harvest be bountiful.
