Pomegranate peels are made up of an inner white tissue and an outer skin layer consisting of epidermis cells covered by a cuticle. When the cuticle develops microcracks, they can deepen into the epidermal and spongy layers until the juicy arils inside are visible. Interestingly, while excessive irrigation has been linked to cracking in other fruits, preliminary observations suggest that limiting water may actually lead to more cracking in pomegranates. Additionally, high temperatures during a certain period of growth (mid-July to mid-August) can make the skin more susceptible to cracking, though it can take several months for the effects to become visible.