Potatoes in Straw

Well the potatoes in straw was a bust last year.  They just didn't get enough water.  It was not to bad starting out and then we got a real hot spell and I was away on weekends.  They just got to dried out, and the spot they were in missed gettting watered when the timed sprinkler watered.  That along with the smokey days due to all the forest fires we were surrounded with just did not help.  So this year...........I'm not sure.  I'm thinking of maybe downsizing abit.