I would recommend giving up on poorly labelled sets alltogether, since you never really know, perhaps those varieties were intented to be spicy storage onions, how would you ever know? Check out Dixondale farms, their onion plants are really reasonably priced and you know exactly what your getting, and for about 12 dollars you can get about 60 onion plants, which is plenty for most people I think. You can try from seeds if you know what your doing, that gives you the most control over your varieties but I so far have failed miserably last year and this year isnt looking too promising either so Im not sure I can recommend that route.

Have you checked to see if you were giving them enough water? Last year I grew onions from sets and they were gorgeous...until I tried to cook with them! They were so strong I could only make one cut in them before the sulfuric acid ran me out of the kitchen! Ample watering is supposed to help dilute the acids responsible for overly strong taste and smell.

I know this year I am going to faithfully water my onions. What good is a beautiful onion you can't eat? ;)

Good tasting onions are in the eye (or taste buds) of the beholder. I personally think that the stronger the onion, the better. If I start tearing up after the first cut into the onion, then I know it's a good one ;)

Someguy,

I'm all for flavorful onions, but when you can't finish cutting the onion because you can't see and your nose is running profusely...its a bit discouraging. I tried chilling the onions before hand, chewing gum, wearing glasses, etc. I think these onions just did not want to be eaten :)

Its the sulphur content in the soil that makes an onion strong. People in the know found that the naturally low sulphur content in soil in the vidalia region in Georgia is what makes their onions sweeter. My understanding is the more sulphur in the soil means more sulphur in the onion. The sulphur in the juice reacts with your tears to make sulphuric acid which burns your eyes. Im sure there are more knowledgable people here that can clarify this. That being said, I have found no way yet to reduce the sulphur content in my soil...yet

It could be the typ onion you are planting.A sweet onion such as candy will not make your eyes water. Storage onions are stronger and will bring tears to your eyes.Sets are usually storage onions and are strong. Try sweet onion plants. yopper

someguy...oh yea...those are the best to fry with some peppers from your garden & some cajun spices, then throw on a bratwurst...mmmmmmmmmmm...

It's the Sulphur in the soil, by using raised beds you can control the sulphur content. It would be best to get a soil test done.