Food plots need to be designed for year round use of game. cool season grasses need to be provided to make a place that is great for poults to find insects in early summer. also they supplement the food supplies of winter when mast crops are low. Stay away from fescue it harms wildlife of all kinds. Cool season grasses like oats, wheat and etc need to be left alone to mature. the seed will make food duing the summer months. Spring planting of corn, soybeans sunflowers will provide food for the winter months, while millet provides seed for fall months. As far as planting corn without a tractor, I would suggest using round up ready varities. This allows for weed controll with the use of a sprayer. Be prepared for some blisters as you will have to dig it in by hand or with a tiller of some sort. Of course if the ground isn't suitable for corn growth (i.e. chert rocky ridge tops of middle tennessee) you will be wasteing your time and money. fertilize and lime also needed to be added to ensure good growth, have a soil test done. Plant early spring for corn when tulip poplars leaf out to combat the dry summer months. I would suggest planting soy beans instead of corn since raccoons like roasting ears and you will not plant enough by hand to feed the coons in your woods.
