I created a hugul bed last spring and planted cucumbers on one end and pole beans on the other end with basil and cilantro along the edge. Everything but the cilantro (old seeds, if I recall) did great. The cucumbers and beans climbed up the porch lattice, a good 8 feet or so, and spilled over the top.
I tucked my seed potatoes only about an inch deep on a shallow end of my bed. (Needs to be built up anyway). I covered with a couple inches of peat moss then 6 inches of loose straw. I will continue to add straw as the tops come up. The potatoes will grow in the straw easy to harvest. I will then add soil on top of straw after harvest.