Terracotta ? Raw or glazed?

My idea would be to not spend a lot of time on this pursuit. You can safely grow perfectly fine organic food in the proper plastic SIP, such as an EarthBox. Make sure that whatever you use is food-grade and recyclable. I can't speak to the safety of the homemade EarthBox knockoffs.

There are organic growers that object to using plastic of any kind, recyclable or not.

Clay or terra cotta pots were once used for that purpose and could work as long as the drainage hole was plugged since they do allow water to seep, albeit really slowly, through the sides. These pots would have to be unglazed.

I'm not sure a wicker basket, most I have seen lately are made of plastic, would hold water long enough to do what you want done.

kimmq is kimmsr

The majority of organic growers should have no objections with the correct usage of plastic materials.