Clay pot irrigation and freezing ground

I'm presently in the supply acquisition stage of creating a food forest and hugelkulture garden. I'd like to use clay pot irrigation for the initial years, but am in zone 2b where the ground freezes solid and deep. Has anyone tried using clay pot irrigation in such a climate? I'm wondering if I'll need to remove the clay pots each winter, or if they'll survive freezing conditions.

My guess (I used to live on the prairies) is that you will need to remove the pots.
I never tried clay pot irrigation on the prairies. I did try a few last winter here, but it was a really mild winter, with hardly any snow, and I doubt the ground froze much. Still, one of the pots developed a leak.

Clay pots will crack and flake apart if they freeze while wet.  I have been satisfied with buryed plastic buckets with a dozen or so holes drilled in the bottom and with covers on top. I have seen some roots grow into the water through the  holes.