Tried onions from sets once but let the grass take them over when I got sick of waiting for them to get bigger. I know they're slow growers but a few months should have shown something. Going to do them in a raised bed this time along with carrots which are considered a companion. The Yellow Sweet Spanish are supposed to be easy to grow.
I'm going to lime the front yard garden this year, make it raised beds and try all the things I've had trouble with before. My soil is low to mid 5 on the pH. Carrots have never done well and were pale. Leeks and beets just don't grow. Broccoli and cauliflower just do ok at best. Leafy brassicas do better but still not great.
I'll probably do a little lime on the high tunnel and surrounding area too but not a lot because I like the how disease free nightshades have always been.
Yeah, your pH sounds like a problem.
Beets also like boron. I heard that sprinkling a little bit of Borax around the beets is supposed to be good for them.