Avocado comes up well in tropical and subtropical climate with a mild winter at an elevation of 600–1,500m and an annual rainfall of 125–180cm. However, it can be grown even in areas with low or ill-distributed rainfall, if the irrigation facility is assured. High humidity during flowering and fruit set is necessary to secure a good crop. Varieties of the Mexican race and its hybrids are well adapted to the cool climates, while the west Indian types are best adapted to the low land tropical conditions of high temperature and humidity. The Guatemalan race is intermediate. Because of the differences in adaptation, avocado offers good opportunity for selecting an appropriate variety for a given climate. Thus, it is presently grown on a commercial scale in different parts of the world having extremely different environment. The climatic extremes range from almost desert condition (Israel) to high land tropics (Mexico) to cool mist belt conditions (Queensland). However, planting of this crop in sites with violent winds should not be taken up or else windbreaks must be provided, as avocado plants have branches that break easily.

Cultivation of avocado can be taken up on loamy or sandy loamy soils of alluvial origin having 5–7 pH. This crop is sensitive to waterlogged condition, hence raising on poorly drained soils should be avoided. Shallow soils, soils with gravelly sub-soils and those poor in organic matter are also not suitable for avocado cultivation. It does not tolerate salinity, excepting varieties of west Indian race. This fruit has been grown successfully on a limited scale in India in the hill slopes of Nilgiris, coastal region of Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra.