The New England environment is a far cry from the balmy tropical conditions needed to grow citrus plants outdoors. However, you can still try your hand at growing lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruit outdoors during the warmer part of the year and maintain them indoors during cool temperatures.

Research citrus varieties that can grow well in containers, since these can more easily be kept as houseplants. The University of Minnesota Extension says some options include kumquats, lemons, small orange trees, and tangerines.

Temper your expectations. Citrus plants that are kept indoors are less likely to bear usable fruit, so it's better to consider them a pleasant houseplant that might yield an edible bonus. The University of Vermont Extension says that if you start a plant from seed, it can take six years or longer to bloom when grown indoors. Purchasing a plant from a garden center, or starting one from cuttings taken from a fruiting or flowering plant, can increase the chances that the plant will bear fruit.

Set up the plant in a container so it can easily be moved outdoors to take advantage of summer growing conditions and indoors to avoid freezing temperatures. The Master Gardener Program of the University of Wisconsin Extension says plants should be placed in south-facing windows or other areas where they receive as much light as possible. At least six hours of light per day is necessary to promote flowering.

Citrus plants grow best when the temperature is between 55 and 85 degrees. Plants can be kept outside when outdoor temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees. Ideally, the temperature should only drop five to 10 degrees overnight to assist with flowering. The University of Minnesota Extension says citrus plants grown indoors do well in temperatures of about 65 degrees, with a five- to 10-degree temperature reduction overnight.

Whenever moving a plant between a home and the outdoors, or vice versa, give the plant time to acclimate. The plant should be placed in a shady location for several days after being moved outside before being set up in a sunny area, and again before transferring them indoors. The Master Gardener Program of the University of Wisconsin Extension says this move should be done before evening temperatures fall into the 40s.

Deeper containers are better suited to support the plant as it grows. The container should also have holes at the bottom to drain water.

The container should have a well-draining soil. Michelle Chin, writing for the home design site Apartment Therapy, says an equal mixture of sand, peat, and bark, perlite, or vermiculite will do well. The pH range should fall between 5 and 8.

Adequate moisture is essential. White Flower Farm in Litchfield says the plant should be watered whenever the soil is dry at a depth of one inch. Plants can drop leaves or fruit if they receive insufficient moisture, and may need to be moved to a sheltered location if windy conditions help dry them out. Chin recommends maintaining a humidity level of 45 to 50 percent during the winter

Citrus plants are heavy feeders, so fertilizer applications will ensure that they grow well. The Master Gardener Program of the University of Wisconsin Extension says citrus plants use more nitrogen than phosphorus or potassium, and that slow-release fertilizers applied when the plants are actively growing can be helpful. Noelle Johnson, writing for the real estate site Houzz, says three applications timed in the late spring, late summer, and winter are useful.

Keep an eye out for pests. The University of Minnesota Extension says some of the more common varieties include scale insects, spider mites, and whitefly.

Citrus flowers can be pollinated if the plant is transferred outside during warmer temperatures. If you keep the plant indoors, you can stimulate pollination by gently shaking the flowers to transfer pollen.

Established plants should be pruned in the early spring to help tame the plant and spur new growth. The University of Vermont Extension says this process should remove any leggy branches. You can also move the plant to a larger container at this point if necessary.

White Flower Farm says pruning can take place at other times of the year, including pinching back tips to encourage growth. Suckers should be lopped off as soon as they're noticed.