Fava beans (aka Broad beans). Not really a climber but can get 5" tall so a trellis can help.

Dave

I didn't know there were any frost-tolerant beans. Interesting. Thanks.

You're right dan. Technically, favas aren't really a bean. They are more vetch than bean. But the seed they produce is bean enough. And in your climate, they should make it all the way through the winter if hey don't run out of steam.

Boy, one has to assume that plants have evolved to keep winter plants close to the ground! I guess, in the interest of low temperature survival, there is an advantage to hugging the ground.

Well, in the case of favas, they don't really 'hug the ground'. They tend to grow straight up, but weight and weather will knock them over if they aren't well supported.

it is also the weight of those named cultivar pods. The real fava (cattle fava) have smaller pods with soybean sized beans. These do not topple as much. I grew them for a few years for the greens. I concur with Dave that for tall and cold this is the best choice.

Does winter squash count?

There are multiple cultivars of Fava. If you want a tall one you need to do some research and find an old fashioned type. Modern varieties tend to be shorter. How about some peas with different coloured flowers? Carouby de Mausanne is a very pretty mangetout type.

What are your lowest winter temperatures?

Some winters it never freezes. Every few winters we get to the low 20s (F). Peas can endure that. But I'm getting tired of peas.

Winter squash? Winter squash stays happy in your pantry over winter. It doesn't grow in winter. Frost will kill it instantaneously.

I just find it striking that there are so few options for winter trellis-able vegetables.

Grew fava beans for the first time this spring in our garden at work and they didn't need any support after they grew a little bit. We did put tomato cages when plants were small but afterwards nothing and plants supported them just as is. And they were loaded with fava beans. No issues.

The simplest way to support favas, if they need it, is to hammer 2 sticks in at each end of the row and run a string up one side and down the other. I sow some in late October/November and then more in February, March and April.

Daninthedirt, do you eat favas green at small fingernail size? Either hot with some bacon bits or cold in vinaigrette? And do you use a named variety or just a random green manure type?